Areas of northern England that have been hit hardest by years of de-industrialisation have received the lion's share of grants worth more than £1.2m in the latest round of awards under the Neighbourhood Nurseries programme. Ten of the 15 projects given cash by the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) to create new nurseries across England are to be sited in the North-East, Yorkshire and Humberside regions, including two in Hartlepool - one of the worst unemployment black spots in the country.