SOMERSET County Council has been accused of "turning its back on the youth of the county" by district councillors, angered by the authority's plans to slash funding on youth and community services.

With youth clubs earmarked for closure and youth workers likely to be made redundant, there are fears young people in West Somerset could be left out on limb.

Cllr Richard Lillis, vice-chairman of West Somerset Council's scrutiny committee said it was imperative district councillors met the county's proposals head-on.

"I am enraged by what they are doing . . . West Somerset is already at even more of a disadvantage than other areas of Somerset and we are going to have to fight this as hard as we can.

"West Somerset has very little voice when it comes to the county . . . we must try to empower groups in West Somerset to best cope with losing youth groups in the area," Cllr Lillis said at Monday's meeting of the district council's scrutiny committee.

The county council has already agreed to reduce the budget for youth services from £3 million to just £814,000 by April 2014.

But it is not yet decided how the cut will be implemented.

Instead, a public consultation on the cuts has been extended until April 11 to allow people to comment on how the authority could best use its allocated resources for youth work.

There are four options on the table:

l The county council permanently retains some youth centres and staff to provide services in the most disadvantaged communities.

l By April 2013 the county council stops direct delivery and focuses on funding voluntary and community organisations to provide youth work.

l By June 2012 the county council stops direct delivery and focuses on funding voluntary and community organisations to provide youth work.

l By April 2014 SCC stops direct delivery and focuses on funding voluntary and community organisations to provide youth work and continues to deliver in the most disadvantaged communities until then.

Speaking at the scrutiny meeting, Cllr Doug Ross said he doubted whether the voluntary sector could cope with any more pressure, especially as its funding had already been cut.

"I can't share their hope that somehow or other the loss of the youth service can be mitigated by voluntary groups," Cllr Ross said.

Cllr Maureen Smith said it was "disgraceful" the expertise provided by fully training youth workers was being ignored while council leader Cllr Tim Taylor pledged to do all he could to lobby the county authority.

"This council needs to keep on to the county council to maintain the professional top on youth clubs across the county," he said.

A decision on which option the county council will take is due to be made on April 16.

The proposal and consultation questions can be found on the council's website http://www.somerset">www.somerset. gov.uk.