A FORMER pit village is fighting back against the drug dealers who have blighted the community and tarnished its reputation in recent years.

Police officers, residents and community leaders in Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street, came together yesterday at the launch of a number of projects designed to get youngsters off the streets - and away from the lure of the dealers.

The ex-mining village hit the headlines just over a year ago when it was targeted by crack cocaine dealers.

In March, the village was sealed off by police as they raided 20 houses and arrested 18 people - one of the biggest and high-profile operations ever mounted by Durham Police, involving 250 officers.

The swoop, which has so far led to five people being jailed for drug-related offences, was sparked when two people from the village died from heroin overdoses.

Since then, the community has been fighting back against the dealers and the misery they were bringing.

In December, a £700,000 community centre was opened in East Street providing a range of facilities for community groups and, crucially, two youth clubs - one aimed at children aged 12 and under and a second for teenagers.

The project led to centre chairwoman Ann Blewitt winning the Taking A Stand award from the Home Office.

Yesterday, Chester-le-Street's Crime Prevention Panel handed over a cheque to fund further projects for young people in the area - £1,000 for the under 12s group to set up a community business using their craft skills to make and market greetings cards and £500 for older teenagers to buy musical equipment, including digital sampling gear.

Panel chairman Mike Walton, a retired deputy head- teacher, fundraising pub landlady Irene Boyers and crime prevention officer PC Graeme Davison handed over the cash to Miss Blewitt yesterday.

PC Davison said the projects were designed to steer children away from getting involved in anti-social behaviour and drug taking at an age before temptation was put in their way.

He said: "By learning to value their community, they can play a key part at an early age.

"Hopefully, it will turn them from the downwards spiral of anti-social behaviour and associated crime and steer them towards positive social behaviour."

He added: "Statistics show that taking positive ownership of your community makes you feel far more responsible for the occurrences that take place in it and the community hopefully becomes less tolerant of anti- social behaviour."

In coming weeks, the panel also plans to donate £750 to Bournmoor Conservation Group to encourage young people to take part in environmental projects, fund a doorstep skills programme of courses for the elderly to deal with bogus callers and spend £540 on two radios for Chester-le-Street's Shop Watch scheme.