YOUNGSTERS will still benefit from a youth service in Pershore - despite the threat of closure hanging over a popular drop-in centre.

The Under-18 Drop-In Centre, which was founded 11 years ago, may have to close in April because it was refused a vital Children In Need grant.

But Worcestershire County Council, which has axed some of its youth club services, said it would still run facilities for youngsters at the Riverside Centre.

Bridget Cooper, principal youth officer at the council, said the club was deemed too similar to the Under-18 Drop-In Centre.

"We have not withdrawn our youth club, but we have reviewed our services," she said.

"We have done a youth project on residential work and had a youth forum group on how to run the centre."

The Under-18 Drop-In Centre provided somewhere for young people to meet, computers and videos three times a week.

Worcestershire Youth Service was responsible for running and managing it.

Now, the youth service will be staging talks with the Riverside Trustees, which owns the centre.

"It's likely we may pick up where the Under 18 Drop-In Centre left off, she said.

"But it may be on different evenings, we don't know. We'll have to get trustees' views."

Children In Need regional co-ordinator Jenny Whateley said the drop-in centre could reapply for a grant.

"We don't stop people reapplying," she said. "They can come back with a new application."