TROUBLED teenagers in Bromsgrove are in line for a share of a massive cash boost from Europe.

The county's Learning and Skills Council launched the project last week at the town's Hanover International Hotel.

Youngsters from all over Worcestershire will receive a helping hand through the allocation of more than £1.8 million from the European Social Fund.

Some of the cash will be used to continue county council schemes working with nearly 600 young people.

But the remainder will be used to widen the choice of subjects in secondary schools. More work-based subjects, such as construction, hairdressing and engineering, will be on offer in a bid to ready youngsters for the world of employment.

Kim Wattie, social inclusion projects officer with Worcestershire County Council, said: "Vocational learning opportunities have been identified as key to rekindling the thirst for learning among young people, who as a result of disengagement have no regular patterns or structure in their life."

She added: "Work-based learning will give all these pupils a chance to try something new and discover previously latent skills and talents."

Patrick Cosgrove, director of learning programmes for 14-19-year-olds at the Learning and Skills Council Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: "There are currently more than 2,000 young people in Worcestershire who are not participating in any form of education, training or work."

He added: "The development of a more established and varied range of vocational options, in line with the Tomlinson Report recommendations, is crucial if we are to prevent further young people from becoming further disengaged.

"It also has the benefit of increasing the employment potential for all young people in the county."