NURSERIES called on ministers yesterday to exempt them from business rate rises while they deal with government demands to double the number of free childcare hours.

The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) warned that nurseries and play schools are facing a 26 per cent tax hike after a government review of business rates.

The charity is calling on the government to bring the rules for nurseries in England and Wales into line with Scotland, where they do not pay the tax.