A call has been made for Essex County Council to reconsider cuts to youth services in Colchester.

Community leaders and council officials on Greenstead estate are disappointed outreach workers covering the area have been withdrawn.

The trained workers helped youngsters who did not take part in organised activities and may have been susceptible to problems or getting into trouble.

Last year a cut in the youth budget meant the service was withdrawn along with the youth information mobile caravan which visited one day a week.

A meeting of Health for Greenstead steering committee decided to write to Essex Youth Service to object.

In the letter the committee's chairwoman Rosemary Sturgiss said: "Such a policy shift is particularly disappointing given the really positive achievements there have been on Greenstead over the last few years."

Although the estate has a youth club with a senior session which attracts up to 50 people, they are concerned other youngsters are losing out from the withdrawal of the outreach service.

A spokesman for the youth service was unavailable for comment.

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