A NEW club is being launched to keep youngsters entertained and out of trouble in a village with high levels of anti-social behaviour.

It is hoped the drop-in youth centre in Cockfield will discourage bored teenagers from hanging around the streets.

Initially, the drop-in facility, at Lipscomb Hall, will be open one night a week, but if it proves popular there are plans to extend it to other nights.

This week, the club moved closer to opening when it received £5,000, secured by police from the Wear and Tees Community Safety Partnership, to buy entertainment equipment, which will be security marked.

Police hope the club will reduce incidents of youth nuisance, which are a similar level to those reported in Barnard Castle - a town four times larger than Cockfield.

Beat officer PC Tony Kent said: "We would like to see the money spent on items that young people want.

"This isn't policing gone soft - arrest and enforcement is always an option, but sometimes there needs to be a multiple approach to making quality of life better for everyone."

The Reverend Jane Grieve, of St Mary's Church, has been a driving force behind the initiative and has enlisted youth workers and volunteers to help.

She is also working with young people to ensure the club offers facilities and activities that will attract them, such as a pool table, table football, dance mat, games consoles and a music centre.

The Rev Grieve said: "There are groups of young people on the streets with very little provision or places to go.

"In partnership with other agencies, the church has been trying to find solutions to help young people and, indeed, the whole community.

"This grant will make a huge difference to our plans for the drop-in centre. We want it to be a dry, safe and fun place."

Elaine Baker, Teesdale community safety manager, said: "The partnership is pleased to support this initiative. It is important to give our young people as many choices as possible and this is becoming increasingly more difficult in rural villages."

To volunteer for the project, for which you will be police checked and offered basic training, call 01388-718447.