A scheme that takes money back from criminals will provide a further £17m for services to help disadvantaged young people.

The cash will be used to fund activities and opportunities as part of the next phase of CashBack for Communities.

It will run from April 1 next year until March 2020, with applications for funding opening early in the summer.

Justice decretary Michael Matheson made the announcement while visiting Granton Youth Centre in Edinburgh, where he met young people who are already benefiting from the scheme.

He said: "This substantial amount will go a long way to changing the lives of our young people and it seems only fitting that this money seized from the criminals who seek to peddle misery in some of our most disadvantaged communities is reinvested back into those same areas.

"As a government we are committed to tackling inequality and CashBack offers every young person, regardless of their background, the opportunity to get involved in positive activities in their communities.

"It is my intention to focus this round of cash on improving the attainment, ambition and aspirations of our most disadvantaged young people.

"We have made it clear that we want Scotland to be the best place to grow up and part of achieving that goal is making sure all of our young people have the best possible start in life."

The scheme has committed more than £75m to projects and organisations working with young people since 2008/09.