APPRENTICESHIPS among the under-19s have fallen in Plymouth, fuelling fears that youngsters are missing out.

Finalised government figures show the number of trainee places in this age group actually dropped last year.

Over 25-year-olds accounted for the biggest hike in apprenticeships in the city, and accounted for an overall hike in numbers.

It came as ministers hailed the "unprecedented growth" in work-based training as take-up continued to rise.

Finalised figures show the number of trainee places being created in Plymouth rose last year to 3,160 from 2,290 in 2009/10 – a 38 per cent increase.

The number of start-up apprenticeships in the 25-plus age range soared by 221 per cent over the period from 420 to 1,350.

But there was a 16 per cent fall in the under 19 category from 990 in 2009/10 to 830 last year.

And the 19-24 age group only saw a modest increase of 100 (11 per cent) to 980.

A recent report by the spending watchdog the National Audit Office said apprenticeships had expanded by 140 per cent over a four-year period from 2006/7, with over 25-year-olds accounting for two thirds of the increase.

Skills Minister John Hayes insisted the government was focusing its drive on young people.

He said: "We have had unprecedented growth. This is the biggest number of apprenticeships in modern history."