A CENTRE to give young people advice on jobs, health and relationships is due to open in Nelson on Tuesday -- five months later than expected and £283,000 over budget.

Lancashire County Council is still looking for funding to offset the expense of the Scotland Road centre, which will bring together agencies working to support 11 to 25-year-olds in the borough.

A 2002 forecast suggested the centre would cost £328,000, but that has since risen to a total cost of £611,000, with some of the extra cash coming from county council contingency funds.

The centre aims to tackle local problems of high unemployment, teen pregnancy, and drug use, and has been set up by the county council, Connexions, and Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust.

It will also give a new home to Pendle's Youth and Community Service, freeing another building in Colne for use as a youth centre. The venture has been funded with European cash, Communities Against Drugs, the county council and the PCT.

County council cabinet member for children and families, Coun Clive Grunshaw, said: "The new centre will be a much-needed information point for young people in Pendle who may not have anyone else to turn to for help."

A county council spokesman said: "The original figure of £328,000 was an estimated cost in 2002. The project has grown over the last two years to become much more comprehensive than we had thought and involving more partnership agencies.

"We appreciate that members of the Pendle community may have concerns about this cost, but the money has come from a range of agencies and we are still seeking other sources of external funding to further reduce the cost."

The centre will be open Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 5pm, with late opening to 6.30pm on Wednesdays. Young people can also phone to speak to advisers on 01282 442555.