Teenagers who attend Frome's Vallis Youth Centre have lobbied the town council to help them save the service.

The girls, who introduced themselves as Becky and Charlotte, addressed councillors at the full town council meeting held on Wednesday last week.

The pair, who said they were regulars at the youth centre, raised concerns about its future after Somerset County Council announced it was to reduce the funding for the whole of the county from £3 million to £814,000.

Since the proposals were put forward in December, the town council said two interested parties, The Priory and the Mendip YMCA, were in negotiations with the county council.

Becky said: "We are here to raise our concerns about the closure of the youth centre.

"If it goes we will miss it as it is a place where we socialise with friends and take part in activities. It also provides us with advice on family, drugs, and sexual health."

The teenagers said that if the centre was to close a number of organisations could be affected. They are planning to hold an open day on Wednesday, February 29, so that people could see what happens at the centre.

Charlotte said: "The open day will be a good opportunity to see us in our natural environment."

Town councillors debated the youth service consultation and decided not to support any of the recommended three options that had been put on the table by the county council.

The three proposals were: to retain a reduced local authority ability to deliver youth work across a targeted number of communities; move to a phased withdrawal from direct service provision of youth work by April 2013; or make the withdrawal in April 2012.

Several councillors and the chief executive, Vernon Anderson, expressed disappointment at the proposals on offer, which they said were not acceptable in the time they were given. He suggested councillors make their disappointment known and not support any of the options.

The councillors voted unanimously to support Mr Anderson's recommendation.