The government's Youth Justice Board (YJB) said it was "extremely worried" by the proposal being considered by Home Office minister David Blunkett.

It is the care of children which will suffer if these centres do not go ahead

Spokesman for Youth Justice Board

Mr Blunkett's proposal follows July's spending settlement which allocateded inadequate provision for his department's ambitious plans to tackle youth offenders.

The secure training centres are intended to provide 450 new places for 12 to 17-year olds.

Planned locations included:

• Milton Keynes (80 places)
• Brentwood, Essex (40)
• A site in Wales (100)
• One in Yorkshire/Nottinghamshire (80)
• One in the north-west (80

A spokeswoman for the YJB, which monitors and operates the youth justice system, told BBC News Online: "There is a proposal to cut the budget that we are aware of.

"Ministers have yet to make a final decision and we are proceeding with our plans, which were accepted back in February.

"This is extremely worrying as it is the care of children which will suffer if these centres do not go ahead."

The Home Office said its budget had been fixed at the spending review, and now ministers were looking at how this would be allocated.

It declined to confirm whether secure training centres were under threat.