A GROUP of vulnerable young people who were living on an abandoned golf course are now “safe and being looked after”, the city council has said.

Residents in Otley Close reported their concerns to councillor Andy Roberts about the issue at the old Tolladine Golf Club – with the youths understood to have been living in a shed.

Cllr Roberts said he was made aware of an “impromptu campsite” on the club grounds around two weeks ago and he quickly flagged it up to the city council.

“There were residents who were concerned about young people making a sort of impromptu campsite on the golf course and living there,” said the councillor, who represents Warndon on the city and county councils.

“When it got reported to me, the concern was the safety of the young people going there.”

He contacted city council youth manager Ann Nicholls who went out to the site and “engaged with them and the police”, with local officers understood to have now cleared the site.

A city council spokesman confirmed: “A member of our youth team stepped in and took action, following a call from a concerned resident.

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“We can confirm that the young people referred to are safe and are being looked after.

“As the safeguarding of those involved is paramount, we are unable to comment further.”

The youths are said to be vulnerable but not homeless, though it is unclear how old they are and whether or not they have been in care.

It is also unclear how many there were or if they were living there full-time.

Cllr Roberts went on to say he understands they were gathering in a “big old shed” on the course grounds, which had been accessed near Otley Close, while mattresses and other living materials were found.

He emphasised it was “more than just a nuisance” issue and is unsure whether anything would have been done if residents had not made him aware.

“The reason I reported it is, when you get these groups of people there’s always going to be vulnerable people in there, which needs addressing.

“Even if they’re not living there and they are just gathering, there’s still a safeguarding aspect.

“If it were a gathering of young people, and I’m showing my age now but, [they were] climbing trees and having fun and being nuisances, that’s one thing.

“But if it’s young people of different ages who are there for different reasons, we needed to be wary.”

The councillor added that in the past there have been problems with young people congregating and “smoking substances” on the course grounds – an issue which “every now and then resurfaces”.

But he said this was different.

West Mercia Police was unavailable to comment and the county council did not wish to provide a response.