PLANS to turn the Red School Youth Centre in Prestonpans into a nursery to help ease a childcare crisis in East Lothian have been revealed.

East Lothian Council's education committee was today told talks were underway over the future of the building, which plays host to youth activities, including music classes, and has been supported by the community in recent years.

The move comes as education chiefs say they are running out of nursery places in the county.

The Scottish Government wants to introduce 1,140 free hours of early learning and childcare provision for pre-school children within the next four years.

In a report to the committee Pauline Homer, the council's lead officer in early learning and childcare , said they were "negotiating for the 'Red School' in Prestonpans to become an early learning and childcare centre."

The council's capital spending budget for this financial year already includes nearly £300,000 worth of funding which was expected to be invested into the youth centre facility, which caters for young people aged eight to 18.

A council spokesperson said: "These talks are at a very early stage and part of an ongoing conversation about future strategy."