Wellington’S much-used youth centre is under threat as Somerset County Council looks to balance its budget.

The future of the building in Mantle Street, which also houses multi-agency youth service teams, was already part of a review of the council’s assets.

Now fears have been raised further following the announcement by council leader Ken Maddock last week that 1,500 jobs were set to go county-wide.

County councillor for Wellington Andrew Govier said the loss of the youth centre would be “devastating” to the young people of the town.

Cllr Ross Henley, who is a town, district and county councillor, said: “If the centre were to close it would be absolutely disastrous.

“This is somewhere that is vital to the young people of Wellington and I shall be questioning council leader Ken Maddock about it at the earliest opportunity.”

A spokeswoman for the council said: "Wellington has a very busy youth centre. “The centre is open two nights a week attracting between 70 and 90 young people between ages of 13 and 19. “It also has after school and lunch time drop-in sessions two days a week.

"However, the county council is facing tough times and a review is currently being carried out of all the services we provide and how we deliver those services."

JULEE-ANN Underhill, who is 17 and has been using the centre since she left primary school, said: “If the centre closes the percentage of anti-social behaviour would increase.

“I used to get into trouble with the police but coming really helped me to stay out of trouble and now I'm a senior leader here.”

GEORGIE Fuller, who is 16, has been attending the centre for two years.

She said: “If the centre closes there would be less places for us to go which would mean more people out on the streets and that would cause more trouble around town.

“Bigger groups of people would meet in one spot which would intimidate other people.

“I think under age drinking would also increase.”