Plans for Devizes School to revive a lunchtime youth club have been put on hold after too few pupils signed up for the scheme.

Headteacher Malcolm Irons had hoped that a minimum of 150 of the 200 Year 11 pupils would pay £25 in advance for the rest of the school year.

But by the time the school broke up for half-term last week fewer than half that number had committed to the project.

It is a major blow for the new model of youth services unveiled by Devizes Area Board in September following the cutbacks which saw nearly all youth staff made redundant.

Mr Irons said: “It’s disappointing. I thought there would be more interest. If we’d got close to 150 we’d have gone ahead, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.”

Mr Irons wrote to all parents of Year 11 pupils at the beginning of the month explaining that the school would need the £25 in advance to cover the cost of staff and hiring the former youth club building which is now controlled by the leisure centre.

He said the cost worked out at just 19p a day if youngsters attended every available session.

The school stepped in to try and take over the club formerly run by Wiltshire Council’s youth service until cutbacks forced its closure in July. It held a free taster session to show the activities that would have been available and planned to offer snacks.

Mr Irons thanked parents who supported the initiative and said refunds would be made after the half-term holiday.

Mr Irons said he had worked with the new youth leader for Devizes, Sally Willox, and the Devizes Area Board over the plans for restarting the club.

The failure of this initiative is a blow to the new model for youth service in the town. It was hoped more services could be taken over by schools and sports clubs.