Swindon is one of the least affordable places in the UK when it comes to childcare, it has been revealed.

And the findings of a recent study showed parents in the Wiltshire town would need to work 91 hours just to pay the monthly cost.

Play Like Mum's research showed Swindon was ranked fourth least affordable in the country, only beaten by Luton, Worthing and Northampton to the top spot.

Factors such as monthly childcare cost, salary and hourly wages have all been looked at in the research to reveal the UK cities with the least and most affordable childcare.

Tarlia Clements, 23, is a mother to a one-year-old daughter in Swindon who she currently sends to a local nursey in the town.

“I have recently gone back to work after my first child and it hasn't been easy,” she said.

“If children alone aren't expensive then you have to pay more for them to be looked after too! It's very daunting and so hard to work it all out.

“It goes as far as putting people off having families. I really enjoy working and earning my own money so wanted to make sure I did carry on after having my daughter but you almost feel punished for working.

“I have had to drop days at work as it works out more cost effective for me to do so as just tow days a week per month at nursery is nearly half of what I take home each month!”

The data found 56.25 per cent of Swindon parents’ wages go on childcare as the monthly cost of childcare is around £1,266.67 and the average monthly salary after tax is around £2,252.

The Trees Day Care Nursery is a childcare provider in Swindon and their director Richard Lay told the Adver: “I suspect the variation is due partly to the cost of the premises, nurseries on school sites or within schools which is much more common in the North of the UK and in Scotland have zero business rates and probably also free heating and utility costs paid by the associated schools.

“Child to staff ratios in schools are 1:13 whereas in our nurseries are 1:8 maximum which averages at 1:6 in practice.

“There is no simple answer but the lack of nurseries opening and the threatened closures announced in the nursery press shows the fragility of the situation.”