A BRAND new service in West Devon for up to 1,212 children will be launched in April, providing a wide range of health, social care and education facilities under one umbrella. Two new children's centres providing services to children under five and their families in Okehampton,Tavistock, North Tawton, South Tawton and Lydford, are the result of an £8 million cash injection from Devon County Council, to provide services to some 22,000 children under- 5 and their families across Devon. The Children's Centre 'hubs' will be based at the Ockment Centre, Okehampton and from a venue within Tavistock. £360k of capital investment has been made available to enable work to be carried out to improve and expand facilities at the Ockment Centre and at the Community Centre, Princetown . A further £320k will be allocated to develop a venue in Tavistock, which has yet to be identified. Services from the Ockment Centre will extend to North Tawton and surrounding areas whilst services from Tavistock will extend to Lydford and to Princetown. The move has been welcomed by local county councillors. Tavistock member Cllr Roy Connelly said: 'This investment into providing co-ordinated services for many young children and their families in West Devon is very welcome, and looks set to provide a huge boost to the local community. 'The centres will enable a wide range of professionals to ensure a truly child-focused service under one umbrella, which should also prove more cost-effective.' County member for Hatherleigh and Chagford, Cllr James McInnes, added: 'This is a very exciting initiative and will be greatly welcomed in the Okehampton area.' Cllr Alan Hosking said: 'I am very pleased to be associated with the Tavistock Centre, which will play a vital role in co-ordinating a range of services for children in and around Tavistock, including Princetown.' Barnardo's has been chosen by Devon County Council to take responsibility for both the Okehampton and Tavistock centres. The management and co-ordination of the services will come from the Core Offer Monitoring Groups, who will oversee and monitor service delivery. Heather Colbeck from Barnardos SW said: 'We are delighted to have this opportunity to work alongside all the families and other groups in these areas. 'We will be listening to what parents and carers tell us is important to them, shaping what's already available, and creating new services to help young children and their families.'