COUNCIL bosses have been criticised by Government inspectors for providing a poor service to hundreds of teenagers - and they are now facing fresh demands to invest heavily in youth provision.

A damning new report from Ofsted, published on Monday, says Darlington Borough Council's youth service as inadequate and says its use of resources represents 'unsatisfactory value for money.'

The severe criticism comes at a time when the quality of provision for youngsters in the town is firmly in the spotlight, following the deaths of two teenage boys on the East Coast Main Line.

Stuart Adams, 15, and Lee Mullis, 14, were killed on the railway line in Darlington on Good Friday.

The tragedy sparked calls from the boys' families and friends for the council to plough significant amounts of money into better services for youngsters, who say they have nothing to do.

Stuart's father, Trevor, said: "So many people have noticed that there is a definite need for something for the kids to do. The fact that this tragedy has happened has really brought it to the fore."

Ofsted's inspection report into the youth service insists the council must ensure that sufficient resources are made available for sustainable improvements. The service provides education and training for about 2,000 young people aged 13 to 19 across the town.

Its budget for 2004/05 was just over £545,000, although external funding of £120,358 was secured.

But Ofsted inspector Phil Whittaker's report said the service's weaknesses outweighed its strengths.

Ofsted rated the council inadequate in all four of its key criteria - standards of young people's achievements, quality of youth work practice, quality of curriculum and resources, and strategic and operational leadership and management.

The report said many youth work sessions were poorly planned and there was an over-reliance on 'unstructured activities that do not challenge and engage young people.'

The council stressed that the service was not only about putting on activities, but also had a strong educational element to promote young people's personal and social development.

It operates in the town's youth centres, has a mobile service and works with schools and other organisations, such as the North-East Regional Youth Assembly and the UK Youth Parliament.

But the report said: "The total number of young people achieving qualifications is low and five of the seven youth centres do not offer opportunities for young people to achieve formal accreditation for their efforts.

"What is offered to young people by the youth service is limited and has not changed over a significant period of time."

The service is also said to have insufficient leadership and management capability.

A council spokeswoman sais that the service had made improvements since the inspection was carried out in February.

She said: "The Ofsted report reflects what was happening at the start of the year and not what is happening now. We have taken on board what Ofsted has said and things are already changing."

Ofsted did praise the commitment of youth workers, who had forged good relationships with young people and said good use was made of youth centres to provide safe activities.

The youth service's transfer from the council's education department to community services was hailed as a step forward, providing clear direction and a commitment to improvement.