A SCHEME to tackle the growing problem of young tearaways could be piloted on one of Southampton's most neglected estates.

Up to £330,0000 funding has been asked for from the Home Office for a pilot project to tackle juvenile crime on the Flowers Estate in Bassett, which has missed out on recent large government handouts for regeneration schemes.

High crime rates, poverty and deprivation combined with large numbers of single- parent families and lower than average health of residents made the estate a prime target for the scheme, aimed at about 1,000 four to 12-year-olds and their parents.

The city was asked to bid for cash at the beginning of the year, but it won't know if it has been successful until July.

Called On Track, the pilot project is the result of work by the education authority, Hampshire Police, probation services, health trusts, social services and voluntary organisations.

Executive director Mike Smith, of the city council, was involved in drawing up the bid. He said: "We are aiming at early intervention - getting at children before they hit teenage years. There are about 1,000 children between the ages of four and 12 on the estate.

"We will run diversionary projects for the children, like sports clubs and homework clubs, plus classes in parenting skills for parents."

The Daily Echo has reported a wave of youth crime over the last year - including children as young as eight causing thousands of pounds worth of damage in a wrecking spree at a Southampton secondary school.

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