A NEW drop-in centre for teenagers, complete with computers, a television, DVD player and coffee machine is on the cards thanks to a £30,000 grant. The centre is to be set up in an under-used building at Lannock School on the Jackmans estate in Letchworth

A NEW drop-in centre for teenagers, complete with computers, a television, DVD player and coffee machine is on the cards thanks to a £30,000 grant.

The centre is to be set up in an under-used building at Lannock School on the Jackmans estate in Letchworth GC to help combat the problem of youngsters hanging around.

North Herts District Council's Letchworth committee has approved the money for the project.

The organisers have also applied for matched funding from the National Lottery.

The project came about after feedback from the Jackmans Improvement Group that teenagers on the estate needed somewhere to go after school.

It is being made possible by Andy Graham, NHDC community development officer, and Lucy Underwood, headteacher at Lannock School.

Mrs Underwood said: "At the moment the building is getting little use.

"I know that this will be a really successful project for the area and we are pleased to be involved as we are a community-based school."

Pupils at Highfield and Fearnhill Schools were consulted about the centre and a variety of local organisations including the youth service, Letchworth Garden City Council and Herts County Council will now be invited to work on the project.

It is hoped it would be staffed by members of the youth service alongside volunteers.

Richard Harman from the Jackmans Improvement Group said: "This is what the residents wanted because the teenagers are coming home from school and they haven't got anywhere to go or anything to do.