A £1.7m cash injection will give 14 regeneration projects in the city a huge boost.

The government grant will pay for a new worker to help cut truancy in Millbrook and Redbridge, a scheme to help women out of the street sex trade, and extra youth workers in Weston.

About £130,000 will go to Oaklands School to help improve attendance and achievement, and a further £150,000 is heading for a project to help vulnerable people who lack self-confidence.

Southampton City Council's housing department will be using £151,800 to work with families involved in anti-social behaviour and £50,000 is being ploughed into the Junior Neighbourhood Warden scheme.

The city's Primary Care Trust is to receive a big share - just over £450,000 - to reorganise services to better address the needs of children and carers.

Out of School Learning, which uses after-school projects to improve children's motivation and confidence, will receive £34,000 and Lordshill Youth Project is in line for £10,000.

Finally, £244,000 will be used by the City Council to prepare and develop action plans to improve life for residents of Southampton's 11 priority neighbourhoods.

The cash has been awarded from the government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and must be used this year for improving education and employment opportunities, or helping young people in the city.

Since 2001 more than £4m renewal cash has been invested in the city - and this latest windfall comes as a result of the success of previous projects.

Southampton City Council's communities and regeneration spokesman, Councillor Liz Mizon, said: "Although Southampton is a prosperous city, there are small pockets of deprivation that exist where residents do not enjoy the same quality of life as others.

"This enables us to target small priority neighbourhoods to ensure residents in these areas have better employment prospects, health services and living conditions."