A COUNCIL which was criticised earlier this year for failing thousands of teenagers has pledged to invest an extra £340,000 in youth services.

Darlington Borough Council was reprimanded in February for providing a poor youth service.

The criticism came in a report from education watchdog Ofsted, which rated the local authority's provision as inadequate in all areas.

In response to the comments, officials drew up an action plan to address the issues raised, including the need to increase resources and improve local facilities.

Before the inspection, the youth service spent £62.25 per head of the population aged 13 to 19 on its work, compared with the Government's minimum standard of £100.

Darlington also fell short in the number of qualified youth workers per head of population it employed.

The lack of money and staff meant the service could not provide as many activities - or to a high enough standard - as it should have been doing.

To meet the Government's minimum standards on spend per head and full-time workers, an additional £340,000 per year has now been made available so work can start to improve the service.

A group, made up of representatives from the council, primary care trust, police and other organisations has been established to oversee the development of a borough-wide youth strategy by March.

The blueprint, which will be created with help from young people, will identify ways to improve the youth service.

Chris McEwan, the council's cabinet member for children's services, said: "This extra money shows the determination of the council to improve the youth service and to give the young people of Darlington all the support and help they need as they grow up in the borough.

"Many improvements have already been made and this money will ensure more good work can be done."

Improvements have included figures released in August, putting Darlington's youth service in the top ten nationally for the number of contacts made with young people aged between 11 and 25.

The service also hit the national target for the number of young people working toward or gaining accreditation through the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, Youth Achievement award or other training.