DISAPPOINTED organisers have been forced to axe a village's youth council after just six months -- because of a lack of interest from young people.

Coppull Youth Council was launched for the 12 to 19-year-olds so that they could have more say about what they wanted for their village.

But despite visits to two local high schools, when some 40 pupils said they were interested in the initiative, only nine turned up for the first meeting -- and numbers eventually dropped to three. Last Thursday, the two people behind the scheme -- run in conjunction with Coppull Parish Council -- decided to call it a day and disband the youth council.

Parish council vice-chairman Nora Ball, who was assisted by colleague Sandra Donohue, said: "This decision was a difficult one to take and was agreed with the three young people who took the trouble to actually come to the meetings. With attendance numbers dwindling, there seemed to be no alternative.

"It seems to be quite strange that we get comments from adults and young people in the local paper saying ' Why doesn't someone do something for the young people?' or "There is nothing for them to do'. But when the youngsters are given the chance to have their say they don't seem to want to know."

Nora added: "It is sad because I have wanted to give the youth a voice, and when they have got the opportunity it seems they don't want to use it.

"It might be us. We might not be dealing with it right. Have we hit the right note with them? We want to give them the responsibility. Do they want that?"

She added that it was hoped the youth council could be relaunched next year and that a meeting will be arranged towards the end of March.

Anyone interested should contact either Nora on 01257 792131, or Sandra on 01257 482614.