A million 16-24-years-olds will be without a job, a college place or training by the end of the summer, according to a report from the Local Government Association (LGA).

The group, known officially as Neets – not in education, employment or training, is set to be the highest level since records began and many young people could be stuck in a rut for years.

The LGA called “urgent action” to stop the numbers of Neets rising even more through the recession and beyond.

Councillor Margaret Eaton, chairman of the LGA, says: “It is deeply worrying that the nation seems set on a course to have a million young people not in education or work.”

The report calls for councils to be “freed up” to run job and training programmes in the short term.