Working parents in St Albans will receive double the current amount of free childcare for three and four-year-olds this September.

Childcare minister Sam Gyimah has announced £13 million for certain councils to deliver 30 hours of free childcare for working parents of three and four-year-olds – a year ahead of schedule.

Hertfordshire has been named as one of eight local authorities that will pilot the scheme, and parents experiences in St Albans will be used to support the expansion of the scheme across England in 2017.

The extra hours of childcare will make it easier for parents to work and is part of the Government’s commitment to 'make work pay.'

The government will also be looking at the issues that make it difficult for parents with particular challenges to access childcare, including special educational needs and disabilities.

Harpenden MP Peter Lilley said: “I am delighted that starting in September – a year ahead of the rest of the country – Hertfordshire parents will have access to this increase in free childcare provision.

“Since this is a pilot scheme, I look forward to hearing from local parents how this works out for them.”

Education secretary Nicky Morgan said: "For too long, rising childcare costs have been a barrier preventing parents and particularly mothers from working.

“That’s why I’m delighted that in just a few months’ time, we will see the first families benefitting from the government’s offer of 30 hours’ free childcare for working parents.

"We have made a commitment to help working people, and through this extended offer we will help thousands more parents who want to return to work to do so.”

Childcare minister Sam Gyimah added: "I’m pleased that we are investing in childcare, and I’m looking forward to seeing how working parents benefit from 30 hours free childcare, before we roll the offer out to the rest of the country."

All three and four-year-olds are already entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week, and this is also extended to the most disadvantaged two-year-olds.

Last year, more than 1 million three and four-year-olds, and 157,000 two-year-olds benefited from this offer.