A LYE councillor has launched a drive to raise £25,000 to set up a scheme to help get troublesome youngtsters off the streets and into work.

Councillor Adrian Turner is trying to raise the money to get The Prince's Trust Team scheme off the ground - to help provide real career chances for 15 disadvantaged young people.

The recently re-elected Conservative cllr is now appealing to the community to rally round and support the initiative, a 12-week intensive training course, which he believes will help transform lives and boost Lye's fortunes.

He told the News: "For the cost of this £25,000 - we can get people causing problems out of a rut. And if they start giving something back to the community this money will be paid for in less than a year.

"This is going to help change lives."

He said similar courses held in Sedgley and Wordsley had proved a resounding success with 70 per cent of participants going onto further training or into jobs.

Aimed at people aged 16 to 25 from the Lye, Stourbridge and Halesowen areas - identified by the police or other agencies, the course would put students through mock interviews, work experience and help them gain a string of qualifications - covering topics such as key skills, first aid, food hygiene and health and safety - to help boost their employment chances.

Cllr Turner said he has yet to confirm a venue for it - but he hopes to run it in conjunction with Wolverhampton College at a location in Lye, possibly at LARA House.

Around £300 has already gone into the pot towards the project; £130 was raised at a balti night at Isha's in Lye and Jim and Val Charles from Jim's Gym in Lye have also donated £200.

More fundraisers are also in the pipeline, including another balti night and possibly a posh charity dinner.

And Adrian, who has been working on the project since last November, hopes to raise enough money by the summer to enable the first course to start in the autumn or January next year.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the cause or stage their own fundraiser can call cllr Turner on 07970 740456 or email him at cllr.adrian.turner@dudley.gov.uk