TEENAGE pregnancies and drug misuse will be just some of the subjects European delegates will focus on when they attend a social inclusion training course in Worcester.

The 16 delegates from Spain, Malta, Romania, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Estonia and Scotland have been invited on the course by Worcestershire County Council.

The visitors will be welcomed to Worcester by the leader of Worcestershire County Council, Dr George Lord, and the chairman of the county council, Edward Sheldon.

County councillors and staff will also greet the delegates when they arrive at County Hall tomorrow morning.

The training course will be run by Julie Elliott, the county council's social inclusion officer, with Jan Blazak, Youthworcs international co-ordinator.

"Social exclusion is what can happen to people that suffer from problems such as poor health, a family breakdown, low income and unemployment," said Ms Elliott.

"Social inclusion is a national drive to raise those people's levels of achievement in areas such as health, education and housing.

"We are concerned with education and trying to help youngsters stay in school and to stop them from playing truant."

The main aim of the course is to exchange ideas with other countries who experience similar problems.