YOUNG people in Middlesbrough are using football to improve community spirit.

The group of 15 to 20-year-olds have joined together to form Brambles Farm FC, in a bid to build links in the community and tackle anti-social behaviour.

Help was at hand for the youngsters, from the Stronger Together in East Middlesbrough (Stem) group, which helped bring a disused football pitch in Milbrook Avenue back into use.

The team have played a number of fixtures, starting in June when they beat a team of street wardens 7-5.

On Saturday youngsters took on the original Brambles Farm FC in a friendly match.

Stem community worker Linda Kime said: "Many of the original team haven't played in over eight years, and a few of them aren't exactly, shall we say, football-fit anymore. This is a fantastic example of residents taking steps to improve community life."

The team also played against a team at Kirklevington Prison on Sunday.