THE outcome of an inquiry into allegations of financial mismanagement within defunct Redditch charity Step Out Drop In (SODI) may not be published until the new year.

A spokesman for the Charity Commission, which is conducting the investigation, said the inquiry was due for completion soon but the findings would not yet be made available.

"It looks as if the inquiry is almost complete but then it will have to go through a lot of checks before it can be published.

''Then the report is sent to interested parties before being made public. At the very earliest, the findings will be made available at the start of December but it's more likely to be next year," added the spokesman.

The police and Worcestershire County Council have also launched their own investigation into the charity for the homeless, which was headed by former Redditch Council leader David Cartwright.

The county council contracted SODI, through its Supporting People programme, to provide housing-related support to young people.

But SODI has now gone into liquidation and will no longer be able fulfil its contract.

A council spokesman said: "We are working with Redditch Council and Rooftop Housing to resolve the situation with minimal risk and impact to vulnerable young people."

A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "We are investigating the circumstances of the winding of Step Out Drop In, which is a registered charity. At this point, no arrests have been made."