A year-long campaign is starting to ensure the minimum wage is being paid, with officers from HM Revenue & Customs targeting nurseries to start with.

The 16 teams of inspectors will initially be following up complaints to the minimum wage helpline, and looking at places where callers have alleged that the minimum wage is not being paid.

Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo said:

"We believe that misunderstanding contributes to the problem, so HM Revenue & Customs will at first focus on education and helping employers get their house in order to meet their obligations and will only resort to tougher enforcement measures where necessary."