A BMX cycle track, a multi-surface sports pitch and two youth shelters could be up and running in Rubery by the end of the year.

Bromsgrove district councillor Peter McDonald (Waseley) says he is 'confident' that Rubery will receive a cash boost of £100,000 to improve youth facilities this year.

"We are very pleased that funding to improve youth provisions in Rubery now looks secure," said the district council's Labour group leader.

A portion of the money, about £65,000, has been earmarked for some time following the sale of the site of Callowbrook school for housing.

The rest of the cash looks set to be stumped up by the district council's anti social behaviour unit (ASBU), in a joint venture to try and curb vandalism in the village.

In October Cllr McDonald suggested a multi-use sports pitch be installed in St Chad's Park, where youngsters can play football, netball and basketball.

Now he is calling for a youth meeting point to accompany it. The robust shelter will offer a place for youngsters to go if they do not wish to play sport.

"A youth shelter is simply a modern day bench, where young people can go and hang around, rather than hang around under a lamppost outside people's houses," said Cllr McDonald.

The innovative youth shelter system has been tried in a deprived area of Telford with much success.

"After just one year the council were able to save £10,000 on repair bills after youths refrained from vandalising the nearby children's playground," claimed Cllr McDonald.

There are also plans for a BMX cycle track at a later date and another youth meeting point to accompany it.

Cllr McDonald added: "We are pleased that we have managed to accomplish so much in so little time and it is all thanks to the young people of Rubery who we have been working with."