HOURLY rates for nurseries in the Cotswolds tend to be almost 30 per cent higher than in the UK as a whole.

Childcare.co.uk’s online calculator reveals that nurseries, childminders, babysitters and nannies all tend to cost more than in the South West on a whole, as well as the UK.

Nursery fees, on average cost £6.75 in the Cotswolds, compared with £4.89 in the South West as a whole and £4.74 nationally.

That’s a difference of 27.4 per cent and 29.8 per cent, respectively.

Similarly, nannies in the Cotswolds tend to charge £10.77 per hour, compared with £9.20 in the South West overall and £9.59 nationally, which is a difference of 14.6 per cent and 11 per cent.

Childcare.co.uk is an online networking site for parents, childcare providers and schools.

Richard Conway, CEO and founder, said: “It always interests me to see how things change based on location, whether that be childcare costs, numbers of providers or most sought-after childcare types.

“We have thousands of childcare providers across the UK and it’s interesting to see that there is such a disconnect between the number of parents in need and childcare providers available.

“With thousands of parents looking for providers there’s never been a better time for childcare professionals to join the site,” he added.