A TEENAGER with special needs could miss out on a vital college place because of a funding wrangle involving Lancashire County Council.

Timothy Rosen, 16, of Brierfield, has autism and his family want him to go to a residential college in Sunderland next month.

His chosen 42-week course is run by the specialist organisation European Services for People with Autism (ESPA) but the Learning and Skills Council will only fund 38-week courses. This leaves a four-week shortfall, believed to cost around £4,000, which has jeopardised his temporarily-reserved place.

His family, who live in Woodfield Terrace, applied to Lancashire County Council for a grant to make up the money but were refused. They are awaiting the results of an appeal.

Gordon Coates, the partner of Timothy's mother Kate Rosen, who works in the marketing department at Accrington and Rossendale College, in Accrington, said: "At the moment ESPA is filled with children who have received funding from social services all over the UK while Lancashire social services rejects it.

"Ashleigh College has been very kind and will hold the place open for a week or two but time is running out. If we don't get the money, Timothy will lose his place.

A spokesperson for Lancashire's social services said: "It is an education issue rather than a social services one. Timothy is over 16 so he now comes under the further education bracket." But ESPA said every other local authority they had dealt with had given the additional funding.

Head of administration and legal services Phil Morris said: "I would say the majority of our student intake is 16 and 17-year-olds and I can also confirm the top up funding is paid by social services departments from all over the country." He said some authorities raised initial queries because it was an unusual funding request but all eventually paid up.

Steve Palmer, executive director of the Learning and Skills Council Lancashire, said he had written to Timothy's family to offer his help. He said funding only up to 38 weeks was LSC policy based on national guidelines.

"The Learning and Skills Council has agreed to fund the vast majority of the costs associated with Timothy's placement, but unfortunately my hands are tied in extending cover for the additional four weeks.

"I fully sympathise with Timothy's family and extend my offer to personally facilitate a positive resolution to this matter," he said.

The family have contacted Pendle MP Gordon Prentice who has written to education minister Estelle Morris to see whether Lancashire County Council is obliged to fund cases like Timothy's.