THE cost of a part-time nursery place for children under two in Scotland has increased by 33 per cent since 2010, according to new research.

A survey by the UK-wide Family and Childcare Trust found parents are now paying an annual average of more than £6,000-a-year, representing a rise of five per cent since 2013.

In Scotland, prices in the Highlands and Islands and the North East have risen most steeply, with 25 hours of nursery care per week costing an average of £112.24 - a rise of almost 16 per cent in one year.

The two areas have also seen the cost of after-school pick-ups by a childminder increase sharply with an 18 per cent hike since last year, despite other regions in Scotland seeing a drop in prices.

Stephen Dunmore, chief executive at the Family and Childcare Trust said: "Since the last General Election, we have welcomed extra support for parents, but if childcare costs continue to rise at this pace the benefits of the new financial support to parents will be quickly eroded.

"In spite of positive initiatives implemented by the Scottish Governments, including more hours of free early education in Scotland, the childcare system across Britain needs radical reform."

Mr Dunmore went on to call for a all political parties to commit to an independent review of childcare.

The survey comes amid renewed fears Scottish parents are facing rising nursery fees as a result of a policy which is supposed to help with the costs of childcare.

Earlier this week, the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), which represents private nurseries, said Scottish Government funding, distributed through councils, was not sufficient to deliver the full cost of providing free places to families.

As a result, some 66 per cent of nursery owners said they were having to increase fees to make up the difference, which the NDNA said unfairly penalises parents.

Jacqueline Lamb, deputy chief executive of the Children in Scotland charity, said: "We endorse the central finding that families want and need more affordable high-quality provision for their children."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We have committed £329 million over the next two years, to deliver the expansion in annual funded early learning and childcare for all three and four year olds and our most disadvantaged two year olds to 600 hours - a 45 per cent increase in the provision that the Scottish Government inherited in 2007 that is worth £707 per child per year."