TEENAGERS struggling to succeed at secondary school could be offered help through a new business set to open in Worcester.

Youngsters aged 14-16 who are "not benefiting from mainstream education" will be offered courses in sports, music, health and beauty, plus childcare and care of elderly.

Planning permission has been granted to use empty offices in St Nicholas Street for the Youth Development Centre.

"It is a temporary measure where we aim to get pupils back into mainstream education by addressing the issues that aren't allowing them to attend school or get them back into the learning process," said director Nicola Browne, from Storridge, near Malvern.

Students from across the county could be referred to the scheme by their schools, she added, with a maximum attending on each day.

Mrs Browne worked as a youth worker for eight years and has been involved with similar centres around the country for the past three years.

Worcestershire County Council's Sue McAdam, a manager with the Euro K4 Project that helps pupils disaffected with education, said Mrs Browne's scheme was interesting.

"It seems to be very similar to some of the activities we've been arranging through our Euro K4 Project for the last three academic years," she added.

"We've requested some further details about her scheme and if we're happy with that which she's proposing, then hopefully we may be able to work together in the future."