A NEW £28,000 minibus is set to hit the road in Eastleigh aimed at helping youngsters.

Hampshire Youth Service has been presented with the 15-seat minibus by the borough's Community Safety Partnership using some of the funds it was awarded from the government's communities against drugs initiative.

Now the bus - emblazoned with the logo Street Talk - will be used for a range of activities.

Hampshire County Youth Service's senior youth worker for the Eastleigh district, Steve Willis, said: "The minibus will be used by our detached youth work team to take young people to youth clubs and other events.

"We will also be able to transport equipment and informative material promoting the work undertaken by the Youth Service."

Steve said it was also hoped the vehicle would be a "magnet" which would attract young people to make contact with detached youth workers.

"This will be the third bus across the district. The running costs have been supported by the Community Safety Partnership and the buses have already proved to be a great success.

"Street Talk is appropriate because we meet them on the street and that is where they talk."

Community Safety Partnership chairman Councillor Peter Wall said the partnership - made up of nine local agencies including Eastleigh council, Hampshire police and the county council - was keen to support the Youth Service.