YOUTH services are to be pulled from a Tynedale town.

Northumberland County Council's youth service will withdraw its provision from Prudhoe this month.

There is "sufficient" voluntary sector provision to meet needs, the authority said.

In a letter written by Sharron Pearson, senior specialist services manager of Northumberland adolescent services, to Prudhoe Town Council, the authority said services would cease on November 30.

The letter read: "It has been deemed that there is sufficient voluntary sector youth provision to meet the needs of young people in the Prudhoe area and the youth service has been asked to withdraw from delivering a provision in the Prudhoe area.

"As a service, will we look to cease Northumberland County Council youth provision in the Prudhoe area with effect from November 30 and will look to redeploy the current provision to other areas within Northumberland, providing a target response to areas most in need.

"We will continue to support the smaller voluntary and community sector provisions in the wider Tynedale area and will be able to provide advice and guidance as needed, as well as continuing to attend the Tynedale Youth Forum."

Prudhoe Town Council discussed the letter as an urgent item at its extra-ordinary meeting.

The town council agreed to send a letter setting out its disappointment over the lack of consultation and asked for information relating to the assertions that youth provision can be picked up by the voluntary sector.

Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson, cabinet member with responsibility for children's services, said: "Youth services in Prudhoe over the past few years have grown from strength to strength and provided the young people of Prudhoe and surrounding areas with great opportunities.

"This has been due, in the main, to the commitment of the local community and those who want to work with young people to give them the best experiences in life.

"The local authority has and will continue to support those services provided in the area and will regularly review the need to ensure support for youth services is reaching those areas where it is most needed.

"By working closely with local partners, we can ensure this continues to be the case."