Urgent action needs to be taken to ensure vulnerable teenagers don’t disappear off the radar when they reach the age of 18, the children’s ombudsman says in a new report.

Marc Dullaert wants local councils to draw up an inventory of the number of 16 and 17-year-olds in their care so that action can be taken to provide further help once they become adults.

Every year, some 6,000 17-year-olds are placed in official local social service care but hundreds opt to drop out when they reach the age of 18, Dullaert says. This means they often get into trouble, end up living on the streets or become prostitutes.

In particular, youngsters with mild mental handicaps run risks when they reach the age of 18, mental health charities say.

The health and justice ministries both say they see no ‘added value’ in ensuring vulnerable 18-year-olds remain in local authority care. However, they do support the provision of appropriate services for those who want it, Nos said.