A PIONEERING Bury project to keep families together is set to be copied across the region.

Bury is the only north west council to be commended by the Government's Chief Inspector of Social Services for services to children, this time for its work in tackling youth homelessness. It follows last year's praise for its carers' break scheme.

In its first year, the Homeless Young People's Advisors Service (HYPAS) has helped almost 200 young people. It provides family mediation to prevent teenagers leaving home or going into care, and has succeeded in reducing the number of young people sleeping rough on Bury's streets to nil. The unit was also instrumental in setting up an emergency night shelter.

Eleni Ioannides, Bury Council's director of social services, health and housing, said the service was set up to stop young people falling through the safety net between housing and social services.

Two full-time advisors work with homeless 16 and 17-year-olds to help them secure accommodation, claim benefits and go on to further education.

The council has now been approached by its counterparts in Trafford and Preston who are keen to set up similar services.

Councillor Mike Connolly, executive member for health and social services, said: "Our team should be proud that it is leading the way in this kind of joint working between departments and should be praised for its forward-thinking response to youth homelessness. We are getting vulnerable young people off the streets and helping to give them a decent start in life."