Pre-school and nursery grants for three year-olds have proved so popular Wiltshire County Council could be forced to make cut-backs in the scheme to make ends meet.

The Government estimated about 85 per cent of parents would take up the Nursery Education Grants but in Wiltshire many more parents have taken advantage of the scheme leaving the county council with a shortfall.

Now the county council faces the prospect of underwriting the bill and hoping the Government comes up with the extra or disappointing parents expecting a grant-supported nursery education for their children.