A YOUTH group praised for stopping youngsters behaving anti-socially is facing a gloomy summer.

Holiday activities for more than 160 members of St Peter's Youth Opportunities may be cancelled unless £1,000 is found.

The programme of events is thought to be particularly important in an area of the city that has recently struggled to combat petty crime by teenagers. In May, a Section 30 order allowing police to disperse troublemakers was imposed on Abbotsbury Court, in the St Peter's area.

Worcester City Council has promised to provide the youngsters with two weekly sports sessions, and Worcester Action For Youth hopes to do the same, but their help will depend on the necessary staff and volunteers being available.

PC Andy Hall, the local beat policeman for St Peter's, has praised the work of Youth Opportuni-ties in promoting law and order in St Peter's.

He said: "The group keeps the kids off the streets and stops them being a nuisance to residents."

Fourteen-year-old Claire Thompson, who attends the group, said: "If it's raining where can we go? If we hang about in Tesco, people say we are a nuisance."

Youth worker Terry Layland has urged St Peter's Parish Council, which next meets on Monday, July 25, to help fund the programme of summer events.

"Coming to a group like ours provides a safe environment for the local youngsters," he said.

"Within two or three years this estate will be a better place if we keep this going."

Parish council chairman Ross McFarlane said it might be able to help if details of the group's accounts and a yearly business plan were provided.