'The childcare sector is a mess!'

Protesters march over crippling costs burdening families

- SOPHIE HALLE-RICHARDS

HUNDREDS of parents - mostly mothers and their friends braved the wet weather to come together and demand better childcare affordability and accessibility in the UK.

Signs and banners saying 'childcare is not a luxury' and 'mat leave is not a holiday' could be seen populating St Peter's square as speakers took to the stage to share their own experiences of being pushed out of work due to the eye-watering cost of childcare.

The protest, which was organised by the charity Pregnant then Screwed, aimed to demonstrate about expensive childcare and poor paternity benefits, which is part of a situation they say is leading too many women of childbearing age to drop out of the workforce.

They called for increased funding for the childcare sector so that high quality and affordable care is available for children, and for maternity and paternity to be ring-fenced and properly paid.

It comes as one woman told the M.E.N she has been forced to cut down her working hours and change jobs to make sure she can care for her young son, and nurseries across the region warned they are facing a crisis point.

Rebecca Hainsworth, 34, travelled to the protest from Hebden Bridge to demand more affordable childcare as she spoke of difficult conversations about whether to give up work.