Selby has been given £1 million to tackle child poverty and deprivation, the Evening Press can reveal today.

The bumper handout is from the Government's new Children's Fund, set up to help "vulnerable" youngsters aged between five and 13 and steer them away from a life of crime.

It was also revealed today that a charitable trust has pledged a further £180,000 to build a new drop-in centre in Selby, as part of the same project.

The Government identified Selby's north, south and central wards as being among the UK's top 300 most deprived communities, with a high percentage of single parents and people on low incomes or benefits.

They singled out the Flaxley Road and Abbots Road estates, where they identified more than 1,000 "disadvantaged" children.

It is hoped the heavy investment will reduce youth crime, truancy, and antisocial behaviour in Selby.

Project chiefs are now negotiating to buy a piece of land in the Flaxley Road area, on which to build the new drop-in centre.

It will be staffed by a network of professionals, ranging from teachers and health visitors to play leaders and school link workers. They will help run homework clubs, as well as drama, music and sport activities between 3pm and 8pm.

The centre will be open seven days a week and three days a week during school holidays.

During the day, it will be used to advise and support parents struggling to manage their children's behaviour.

Daytime staff will include NSPCC, benefits advice and family support workers, and there will also be a "befriending" outreach service.

Dave Yellan, manager for children and family services in Selby, is chairman of a newly-formed planning group, which is managing the Children's Fund project.

He said residents and head teachers in the three wards would be consulted and would play a central role.

A group of youth offenders would also be consulted about the kind of services and facilities they would like to see.

Mr Yellan said: "The cards are stacked against these kids and we have to integrate them back into schools and communities."

The Government has committed £1 million to Selby over the next five years, and it is hoped the drop-in centre will be completed by next Christmas.

Selby town councillor Steve Shaw-Wright said: "This is fantastic news for Selby. We've been battering the Government for a long time about the massive problems these areas face."

Updated: 14:34 Monday, December 10, 2001