A WORCESTERSHIRE politician has accused council chiefs of discriminating against children "from poor families" who want to attend college.

Councillor Paul Denham, Labour's spokesman for children and families. says Worcestershire County Council needs an urgent re-think of its travel policies.

Bosses at County Hall do offer travel help to teenagers wanting to access further education, on the basis they are aged under 19 when the course starts, live in Worcestershire and attend their nearest college or sixth form but live more than three miles from it.

Councillor Denham says the policy would typically stop a Worcester-based teen from a poor background accessing a vets' course, which are only available in Evesham and Pershore, while inadvertently encouraging them into other courses closer to home.

He also says the move is damaging young people's prospects by giving those with limited means less of a chance of getting on.

"This is an important issue now the Government has decided to effectively raise the school leaving age to 18," he said.

"I understand the council's policy is to assist students who attend the nearest school or college which offers the 'level' of course they require, but not necessarily the 'specific' course.

"Does this mean a student with very limited means, living in Worcester, wanting to take, for example, a veterinary course only available in Evesham or Pershore would be refused assistance because there's a course of the 'equivalent level' in book keeping or media studies in Worcester?"

He says he feels the policy "discriminates unreasonably against those from poor families".

The council has defended its policy by saying schools and sixth forms also have their own in-house travel schemes designed to help those in need.

The Conservative leadership also insists it believes its policy is fair to everyone including taxpayers, and that it is only ever designed to be discretionary.

Tory Councillor John Campion said: "It's the participation age that has been raised, not the school leaving age.

"At the same time we last changed our discretionary transport policy for post-16, the Government did establish a new bursary grant, and access to that is through schools and colleges.

"I do believe the appropriate support is out there to allow our young people to access the courses they want to access."

The debate took place during a full council meeting, with Councillor Campion since quitting the cabinet to concentrate on being West Mercia's police and crime commissioner.

The Government funds schools and colleges to offer their own grants to some disadvantaged 16-19 year olds.

One grant is worth up to £1,200 a year, while some individual needs like meals, books and equipment can also be funded in rare cases.