TACKLING poverty, easing pressures on the youth justice system and improving mental health are highlighted as key parts of a strategy to improve the lives of the town's children.

The St Helens Children and Young People's Plan 2015-2018 sets out a series of challenges to be addressed.

The report points to "continued funding restrictions" and "difficult economic circumstances" but said that services will need to be delivered by St Helens Council more efficiently and responsibly.

While St Helens has experienced improvement in its "material wealth", the report claims, the Index of Multiple Deprivation in 2010 ranked it as the 51st most deprived authority out of 326. That is compared to 47th in 2007 and 36th in 2004.

It said that approximately a quarter of children in the borough are classed as living in poverty, meaning families are either receiving benefits or tax credits where household income is less than 60 per cent of the national average.

Since the previous plan 2011-2014, there were a number of key achievements including improvements in primary education and a reduction in youngsters not in education, employment or training.

The report also pointed to success in reducing teenage pregnancy and an increase in engaging with children and younger people.

Among the key challenges it recognised were tackling child poverty, pressures on the youth justice system and the need to develop and promote mental health.

Priorities include reducing domestic violence, alcohol and substance misuse and child sexual exploitation.

This would be through continued development of adult treatment programmes and multi-agency safeguarding hubs, created as a point of contact for those concerned over a child's safety.

To ensure that children have the best start in life the more needs to be done to help people in the first stages of parenthood, including health and preparing children for school through 'family health visits'

For schools identified as "underperforming" improvement plans will be put in place and a review of the use of the 'pupil premium' used for the most disadvantaged children.

Measures will also be put in place to try and reduce reoffending in young people by the effective use of Youth Rehabilitation Orders and developing the restorative justice programme whereby offenders are given the opportunity to meet with victims to discuss the impact of their crime.