OXFORDSHIRE County Council is considering a move to replace five full-time members of its youth mentoring service with volunteers to save money.

The affected staff would be re-deployed elsewhere in the service, which offers direct support to troubled youngsters, including drug users, self-harmers, unaccompanied child asylum seekers and young offenders across Oxfordshire.

The move has angered union officials.

Mark Fysh, of Oxfordshire Unison, said: “You cannot replace fully-qualified staff, who deal with the most vulnerable young people, with volunteers.”

County Hall said the same level of service would be maintained, but it was seeking to reduce costs.