PARENTS face a postcode lottery when it comes to the fees they're charged for late nursery, school or childminder pickups.

In the past 12 months alone, parents have collectively been fined £151million, according to new research from Direct Line.

But the insurer says fees can vary wildly - in some areas it is free, while for others it can cost up to £50 a pop.

There are also differences in how fees are calculated - some childcare organisations will charge a flat-fee while others start the clock for fines immediately and charge £1 a minute until the parent arrives.

The research, based on a survey of more than 2,000 adults, found that parents were late picking up their children three times on average in the past 12 months.

While more than 259,000 parents have paid out over £100 in fines in the last year.

Before and after school clubs can help to ensure parents aren't stung by costly late drop off or pickup fines but these come at a cost.

Direct Line found that breakfast clubs range in price from being free to costing around £9 a day, while, after school clubs cost on average £9 a session.

Jane Morgan, business manager at Direct Line Life Insurance, said: “With long working hours and people having to commute from their place of work, it can be difficult for parents to ensure they pick their children up on time, leaving parents to rely on the generosity of friends and family to avoid charges for late pick ups.

"Despite their best intentions, this isn’t always possible, and people are being stung by huge and sometimes disproportionate fines for extended wraparound care.

“Given how many working families rely on this type of childcare, it is important that they consider how they would meet these costs and ensure their family is protected if their lifes

Liz Bayram, chief executive of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY), adds that childcare providers issue these fines to cover staff overtime.

She said: “Most childcare providers will do their best to support families who – due to unforeseen circumstances - are late picking up their children on the odd occasion.

"But childcare providers also have to run a sustainable business.

"If a parent is late picking up a child, it means that childcare provider has to pay one of their staff overtime to remain at work to care for that child until the parent arrives.

“With government funding levels barely covering costs for many nurseries, pre-schools and childminders, these rules are in place to ensure nurseries, preschools and childminders can remain sustainable and meet legal requirements including adult:child ratios.

"These should all be clearly detailed in the contract a parent signs when they first agree to place their child in the childcare setting. If they have any concerns about these, that is the time to discuss them with the provider."