Young offenders are being put at risk because of a chronic lack of places in secure accommodation, social services chiefs have warned.

While the courts convict more young offenders, the youth justice system is struggling to find somewhere to house those sent down.

As a result more and more of the "vulnerable" are ending up in prison.

In the worse situation we may end up with children who commit suicide

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In some cases this may result in them being abused and even committing suicide, the chiefs say.

Watling House Secure Children's Home in Staffordshire, houses some of the young offenders.

According to said the BBC's Social Affairs Editor, Niall Dickson, they have committed "terrible crimes".

"These teenagers are too young or too disturbed to go to prison accommodation, but they are the lucky ones," he said.

Watling House has just 12 residents who live there at a cost of �3,500 a week each.

All of them are demanding in their own way but staff say they can turn youngsters round - "something prisons find difficult to do" said Mr Dickson.

Constant strain

Karl is 16 and after two years locked up he will soon take his GCSEs before returning home.

The youth justice system is under constant strain to find places for young people convicted by the courts.

Robert Lake, from the Association of Directors of Social Services said: "The problem with placing children in the wrong situation is that they may abuse others or be abused by others.

"In the worse situation we may end up with children who commit suicide."

The government acknowledges the shortage of secure homes but it hopes fewer young people will be locked up.

Robert Lake: 'Children can abuse themselves or others'

It wants more young offenders tagged or put on sentences in the community.

Lord Warner, of the Youth Justice Board said: "We think in two or three years time the courts will be using these community programmes as an alternative to custody."

"These are not soft options," he stressed.

But until then the "most troubled and troublesome" secure homes are the only answer.

"Until more places are built some youngsters will remain at risk," says Mr Dickson.