THE number of homeless youths in Worcestershire has skyrocketed by more than 150 per cent.

Figures just released by Centrepoint, a national charity working to improve the lives of socially excluded, homeless young people, showed that 204 youths had presented themselves as homeless during a four-week period in 2003.

The 158 per cent increase on the data collected during the same period in 2002, also showed the total figure, 42 per cent were aged either 16 or 17.

In most cases, those questioned said they had no choice but to leave home, citing being asked to leave or relationship breakdown as the top reasons.

Of the six district councils in the county, Worcester city had the highest number of homeless youths with 68, compared to 45 in Wyre Forest, 32 in Redditch, 21 in Wychavon, 18 in Malvern Hills and 17 in Bromsgrove.

The remaining three did not want to reveal where they were from.

The study, which was carried out during a four-week period from September 15, 2003 to October 15, 2003, also revealed that 23 per cent of the young people had stayed with friends the night before presenting themselves as homeless, whilst 11 per cent had slept rough.

Centrepoint has been working with local councils and agencies since 2001 and has produced the Tackling Youth Homelessness in Worcestershire report.

As a result, new projects are being developed across the region to improve the lives of homeless young people, such as a new Nightstop and mediation project in Wyre Forest where young people will be accommodated in the homes of volunteers.

"The survey's findings underline the importance of the inter-agency working that we have established to tackle this serious issue," said Worcestershire Connexions' chief executive and chairman of the Youth Homelessness Group, Roger Little.

Anthony Lawton, Centrepoint chief executive, added that the number of 16 and 17-year-olds presenting themselves as homeless in Worcestershire was cause for concern.

"Centrepoint has been working with local councils and agencies since 2001, culminating in the publication of the Tackling Youth Homelessness in Worcestershire report.

"As a result, new projects are being developed across the region to improve the lives of homeless young people, for example, a new Nightstop and mediation project in Wyre Forest where young people will be accommodated in the homes of volunteers."