TWO areas in the North-East are among the worst in the country for their proportion of young people who rely on benefits.

A Government study showed that more than one in five 16 to 24-year-olds in Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland relied on benefits -with no job, or a place in education or training.

Hartlepool was second in the country, with 22 per cent, and Redcar and Cleveland were third with 21 per cent.

Stan Kaiser, independent councillor for Hartlepool, said: "It is extremely disappointing and disturbing that we rank so highly in this, and that we have such a high rate of unmarried mothers.

"But we must recognise there is a high level of disadvantaged people in Hartlepool in almost every way, and it is the responsibility of the people of Hartlepool to do what they can to help all the disadvantaged people, particularly those with young children.

"It is these children who are the future, and unless we help them in every way we can, they will also grow up to be deprived and disadvantaged. It is the duty of us all to look after those in greatest need."

The study found young women on benefits are 22 times more likely to be single mothers, or to give birth under the age of 18, than someone with qualifications or a job. People on benefits are also 60 times more likely to use drugs and 20 times more likely to turn to crime.

Nationally, around 85,000 youngsters leave school every year with no job to go to, and 75 per cent of males charged in youth courts have no qualifications or training.

The Government aims to cut the number of those on benefits by a fifth by 2010, by offering a range of vocational qualifications.