THE outstanding work of an award-winning group of young County Durham crimefighters has earned it a national accolade.

Earlier this year, the Colliery Crimebusters from Easington, in County Durham, were honoured for their efforts by the county's High Sheriff, Sareth Nainby-Luxmoore.

Mrs Nainby-Luxmoore was so impressed with their work that she entered them in the National Crimebeat Awards, a move which has now won the young crimebusters second place in the UK competition.

Next month six of the group will travel to London to receive their award from the Shrievalty Association.

The group members who will be heading south include Terri Loftus, Jordan Robinson, Steven Davies, Damien Summerhill, Emmerson Hird and Lewis Miller all aged between 11 and 16.

When the group formed in 2005, its aim was to improve the quality of life in their former pit village and help make the area a better place to live.

After drawing up a list of local problems, which included graffiti, speeding vehicles, litter from drug taking and drinking, arson and a general lack of facilities for young people, they set about trying to improve the situation.

They helped street wardens in a litter pick, distributed crime prevention literature and put together and delivered Christmas gifts to 35 elderly people.

They arranged for a mobile skate park and a community bus to regularly visit the area and organised outings for other young people.

The youngsters also staged football matches between themselves, the police, street wardens and community support officers.

Sergeant David Young, chief executive of the Durham Agency Against Crime said: "These young people are the area's future and are setting an excellent example by taking things forward in a positive way, instead of just sitting waiting for things to happen."