HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds more will be spent providing better services and facilities for young people across the county.

With a teenage population of almost 50,000 in North Yorkshire, the county council's education service has agreed to increase the amount it spends each year providing services for 13 to 19-year-olds.

A further £400,000 will be added to the £1.6m that is spent each year, with access to an extra £200,000 for capital projects.

It is also proposed that the three-year Transforming Youth Work Plan will see an additional £800,000 spent in each of the following two years, bringing the total budget up to Government guidelines for a council the size of North Yorkshire.

"There are examples of superb work going on with young people, the plan will look at the best practice, enhance it and make it grow," said Terry Begley, education officer for community learning development.

"Social issues affecting young people do exist in North Yorkshire - not to the same scale as in major cities admittedly - but there are pockets of high levels of deprivation in some of our towns, and unique issues in a county as rural and sparsely populated as ours."

The plan - written after consultation with young people, education staff and partner organisations - will provide a framework for change. It lists proposals to develop residential and international youth work, sports, work-related learning and reintegration programmes for at risk groups.

"Why shouldn't they have cafes that look like Central Perk from Friends if that's what they want," said Mr Begley.