"AFFLUENT" areas of Redditch have been overlooked in a £30,000 spend on town youth workers, claims a concerned Redditch councillor.

Conservative leader Carole Gandy said the town's more "deprived" districts were benefiting from Worcestershire County Council-employed youth workers while those considered to be more affluent were missing out.

"There is a desperate need for youth workers in areas such as Webheath, Crabbs Cross and Headless Cross, which have a large population of young people but very few facilities for them," she said.

A Redditch police spokesman agreed antisocial behaviour was as big a problem in areas perceived to be affluent as any other part of the town.

But he added: "In five or six years I've never even bumped into a youth worker in these areas."

The issue was raised at Wednesday night's executive committee meeting, where cabinet members also looked at the option of doubling expenditure on the Redditch Youth Team.

Youth workers help vulnerable youngsters on their territory, in streets, cafes, parks and pubs, with the aim of reducing antisocial behaviour and improving society.

The Redditch team has been funded for the past three years by the Redditch Community Safety Partnership, but funding will expire in March 2006, forcing it to seek alternative options.

It was agreed a report investigating Mrs Gandy's proposal would be brought before the Cabinet at the next executive committee meeting.