A POPULAR Worcester youth club created to help stamp out anti-social behaviour is not expected to be reinstated.

Opposition councillors on Worcester City Council had called for the Cellar Project to be re-started using an £84,0000 windfall grant from the Government.

But the council is expected to decide tonight that it will not be going ahead with the plan. The Cellar Project, based at Worcester Arts Workshop in Sansome Walk, ran music events for six months in 2003 and attracted up to 200 13 to 17-year-olds at a time.

But the project cost £1,100 a session and was eventually dropped because it was too expensive.

The Conservative-run city council has now produced a report saying there was "inconclusive" evidence that it led to a reduction in anti-social behaviour.

It has led to fierce criticism from the opposing Labour Group, which suggested the plan in April.

Councillor Paul Denham, deputy leader of the Labour group, said: "I have read the report very carefully and can understand the worry about not being able to continue the project, but this city council does practically nothing for young people.

"There are precious few places to divert young people away from causing anti-social behaviour in this city.

"The report says it would be better to provide facilities in the community rather than bring people to the city, so let's see it spent in Tolladine, Gorse Hill and Warndon.

"My concern is that the money will disappear into a black hole.

"We need to be doing more for young people - anti-social behaviour orders are not the answer because it is too late by then."

Assistant head of community services Wynne Rogers, who wrote the report, said: "Yes, there was a drop in anti-social behaviour on the nights it ran, but on other nights we saw similar drops, and on odd nights an even bigger reduction, so the evidence is inconclusive.

"Another reason for my recommendation is the cost, as well as the concerns police had about tracking 150-200 kids going home from the city centre at night."

The council was given an unexpected £84,263 boost by the Government in February to help promote economic growth in Worcester.

The council wants to add the cash to the £1 million reserve it already has, but is coming under increasing pressure from Labour members to spend it.

The report recommending the Cellar Project is not reinstated is expected to be endorsed by the council's cabinet tonight.