IT'S little more than a month since we wrung our hands in despair at the prospect that £30,000 cuts to youth service funding - around a 25 per cent reduction - will lead to a rise in vandalism and anti-social behaviour in Worcester.

We're convinced that yobs aren't born, they're created by a society showing youngsters too little interest.

So we wonder how - unless the community takes responsibility - we can avoid the consequence of the moment when teenagers become bored.

Today, our attention is taken by the vain search for funding to save Droitwich Adventure Playground, despite the efforts of centre boss Dave Spicer and chairman Peter Pinfield to persuade district and county council officials of its importance.

When his Children in Need grant dries up in May, Mr Spicer's eight-and-a-half-years at the site will end.

With him will go the "vital respite" facility which he's provided for children from the town's Westlands estate.

"This centre's all about the kids who all need somewhere to go," he says. "It's a place where they can feel secure. Now they have nothing at all. It will be sorely missed."

Once again, it seems, society - in the guise of local councils - has calculated the cost of such a place, not the value.

If the consequence is a rise in anti-social behaviour, people will shake their heads in despair - but they'll have to take part of the responsibility for letting it happen.

As in Worcester, Droitwich's young generation is being treated like second-class citizens.