YOUNGSTERS gathered at a Darlington public meeting and appealed to the council to provide something for them to do outside of school hours.

More than 30 youths, aged from 14 to 19, attended the North Road Community Partnership meeting to discuss the provision of youth services or projects in the area.

The topic has been hotly debated since Stuart Adams, 15, and Lee Mullis, 14, were killed on a railway line on Good Friday.

The meeting in Northland Methodist Church, which was also attended by representatives from Darlington Borough Council, the police and the community, saw children and adults agree to work together to provide a better future for youngsters.

It was decided a permanent base was needed for children to gather during the evenings, with music and activities.

The youngsters agreed they would decorate the building themselves, and would help to decide on the activities.

The youngsters said they wanted there to be more things to do and said they only congregate in large groups in public places out of boredom.

They also said they wanted to challenge stereotypes about bad behaviour. One 15-year-old boy said he felt young people wrongly had a reputation as being troublemakers and suggested a party be organised for old and young people to help to build relations.

North Park, which is undergoing regeneration work, was put forward as a permanent base for activities.

Stuart's father, Trevor, said it was important the young people's views were taken on board and got beyond the planning stage.

"This is our chance to look after youngsters now, and give them something they really want, so we need to get a pilot scheme up and running now," he said. "The squeakiest wheel gets the most grease, and if we all keep pushing for something, then we will get it. We all need to keep doing what we can."

Morvyn Sanderson, of Darlington Community Partnership, said: "Things are not going to happen overnight, but although funding for long-term projects takes a long time to get through, we need to organise things for these young people in the meantime."