Leading children's lawyers are urging young people in care to start thinking about what sort of support they will need from theior local authority to help them move on to independent adult life.

New laws come into operation later this year and to help young people understand how they will be affected by them, the Solicitors Family Law Association has teamed up with children's charity NCH to give advice to young people on a website - www.carelaw.org.uk.

The Children (Leaving Care) Act, is expected to come into force in October, and creates new duties on local authorities to support young people leaving care or in further education.

Teenagers will have a 'Pathway Plan' drawn up with the help of a personal adviser or social worker, which will outline the support to be provided by their local council up to the age of 21.

Lawyer, Peggy Ray, said: "The intention is that the support provided to young people in care echoes, as far as possible, that given by a responsible parent - but responsible parents don't make their children wade through bureaucracy to get what they need at this difficult time.

"Some local authorities will be better than others at putting the new arrangements in place, so we are urging young people to start thinking about what they want in their plans now to make sure help is there when they need it.

"For too long, young people have been sent out into the world to fend for themselves - the new legislation marks a turning point in recognising the past failures of the public care system.

"We hope that children in care will now get the opportunities they deserve."