An extra £200m is to be rolled out nationwide to help troubled families, thanks to the success of a Wandsworth Council initiative.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles made the funding announcement during a visit to the council’s Family Recovery Project that has successfully turned around nearly a third of its troubled families.

This project, thought to save taxpayers £29,000 a year for each family involved, was set up two years ago as a pilot in Wandsworth and since then almost 200 families have seen their lives turned around.

The scheme reduces crime and anti-social behaviour, the number of children taken into care, fewer visits to accident and emergency, fewer interventions from the police and the courts and helping adults get back into work.

Wandsworth Council leader Ravi Govindia said: “Nipping problems in the bud before they can develop into far more serious social problems is the key and this new round of government funding is recognition of the good work that is being done to get people’s lives back on track.”

Mr Alexander said: “The Troubled Families programme is a radical example of how, by spending a bit more in certain areas, we can save much more in others and by doing so create a stronger economy and a fairer society.”