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

A report by education watchdog Ofsted, published today, condemns Darlington Borough Council's youth service as inadequate and says its use of resources represents "unsatisfactory value for money".

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

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 local authority to plough significant amounts of money into better facilities for youngsters, who say they have nothing to do.

Ofsted's inspection report into the youth service insists the council must ensure 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 2004-2005 was just over £545,000. External funding of £120,358 was also secured.

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

Ofsted can give ratings of very good, good, adequate or inadequate for its four key criteria. It rated the council inadequate in all areas - 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".

Last night, Stuart Adams' father, Trevor, said the family had written to the borough council, telling of their hopes for more youth facilities, and was awaiting a response.

He 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."

The council stressed 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 youth centres, has a mobile service and works closely with schools and other organisations, such as the North-East Regional Youth Assembly and the UK Youth Parliament.

The authority stressed the service's positive role in drugs education initiatives in Darlington.Teenagers can also take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Youth Achievement Award schemes, among others.

But the report said: "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".

Ofsted recommended that the council made sure sufficient money was available, that young people were more involved in the service's development, that the management structure be reviewed and strengthened, and the overall quality of youth work practice was improved.

A council spokeswoman said the service had made improvements since February's inspection, adding: "We have taken on board what Ofsted has said and things are already changing. New projects such as TextVibe, which was launched after talking to young people, show that we are listening to what they want and responding."

TextVibe, whereby youngsters can receive text messages telling them of activities in Darlington and give their views on local facilities, was unveiled last week.

Ofsted praised the commitment of youth workers 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 also hailed as a step forward, providing clear direction and a commitment to improvement.