HOMELESS young people in the Sedgefield borough are to be offered support to help them lead more independent lives.

The council is to work with the national Stoneham Housing Association to help 16 and 17-year-olds who have left home for whatever reason.

Sedgefield Borough Council's housing policy manager, Dennis Scarr, said council accommodation was made available for youngsters in need.

But he said: "The problem is that a lot fail because they aren't ready for living independently. They don't have the necessary life skills."

The council has agreed to lease a number of houses to Stoneham - no more than ten in the first year - in various parts of the borough.

Mr Scarr said: "The young person would become a tenant of the housing association and would have a case worker. For anything up to a year they would be provided with support.

"If it works, we should get young people who develop enough to become tenants of the council."

One of the reasons many young people fail to settle is they do not understand the housing and welfare benefits system and fall into debt.

Stoneham should be able to let young people know benefits to which they are entitled, and help with basic life skills.

Mr Scarr said: "The end product is somebody who is capable of living like an ordinary tenant."