A £1 MILLION investment into creating living quarters for vulnerable teenagers in Worcestershire has been confirmed by council chiefs.

Worcestershire County Council has now formally agreed to alter its budget plans for 2015/16 to add the seven-figure cash injection into its plans.

The move, first revealed by your Worcester News last month, was widely praised during a full council meeting - with the opposition Labour group welcoming the Tory policy.

Conservative Councillor John Campion, the cabinet member for children and families, said: "This is an excellent initiative, a future expansion of our own in-house provision which will reinforce the excellent reputation Worcestershire has for its services for young people."

Councillor Pattie Hill said: "Supported Living (the council term for helping vulnerable people) is a 24-hour undertaking - we must support those who need help as they make that transition to adult life."

Labour group leader Councillor Peter McDonald added: "It's a bit of fresh air to see the controlling group realising we can do things in-house, more efficiently and effectively than taking it outside.

"I hope the cabinet do more of this."

The investment is because the council is looking after 83 young people who currently cost taxpayers £2.5 million a year.

As part of its post-16 care duties the cohort are deemed to legally require care packages, because they are still classed as 'children in need' or have a Care Order.

Until now the services for looking after them were bought from outside providers, leaving the eye-watering yearly bill.

The type of properties being explored include one and two-bed flats, as well as three and four-bed homes, spread across Worcestershire with facilities for on-site staff if they are needed.

A report on the move, which was accepted by the Conservative cabinet last month, says the 'net' saving would be around £312,000 a year.

Now it has been voted through by the full council, the capital programme will be changed to accommodate it.

The report published before the meeting said officers believed it could offer "significantly better service at reduced cost" under the move.