A GROUNDBREAKING youth scheme in Eastleigh is to provide the blueprint for plans to set up after-school clubs across Hampshire.

A pilot club run at The Basement Youth Centre, in Chandler's Ford, has been hailed a success after a five-month trial by county council youth bosses.

The scheme, which was used by 40 youngsters aged 10-14, could now pave the way for after-school clubs to be opened in other parts of the county.

Set up as a joint project between Hampshire's youth service and early education and childcare unit, the local club ran twice a week between March and July this year.

Members were encouraged to take part in activities and issue-based work aimed at raising the awareness of subjects from bullying and drug abuse to IT and cooking.

The scheme has been welcomed by childcare experts for helping busy working parents look after their children.

County council chiefs are now looking to the Eastleigh pilot as a model from which to develop further clubs in the future.

Councillor Margaret Snaith, chairman of the county council's children's services sub-committee, welcomed the success of the trial club.

She said: "Everyone, from the young people themselves to parents and the wider community, could benefit from these clubs.

"We still have some distance to go before we can expand these clubs throughout the county - not least in identifying the funding but also in training appropriate staff to run the clubs.

"But this pilot really has paved the way by developing a curriculum setting out the kinds of activities which best suit this age group."