PUPILS have tested a new drugs education roadshow that they helped design.

Youngsters at Our Lady and St Joseph's RCVA Brooms School, Leadgate, near Consett, took part in a trial run of the Feel Good Roadshow.

It is based around a number of stations, covering topics such as self-esteem, peer pressure and making decisions, and the affects of smoking and alcohol.

Three schools - Leadgate Infants, Leadgate Juniors and Brooms - helped to produce props for the roadshow, including a games mat, along with composing a song and designing a campaign logo.

Kim McGarry, the young people's health promotion specialist for Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT) who has been working with the schools on the project, said: "I am pleased that these schools are making real progress in relation to drugs issues.

"Through joining the County Durham and Darlington Healthy School Standard programme, they are able to take full advantage of the framework that it provides.

"It's also important to have staff who are confident and skilled in addressing drug issues, which is why drugs issues training was an integral part of this project."

The schools and the PCT worked on the project with Northpoint Media and Busy Ape Arts.

"Everyone in the partnership hopes that the roadshow will help pupils develop knowledge, skills and a healthy attitude in relation to drugs so that they can make informed choices," said Ms McGarry.

"The important underlying message we will be trying to instill in the children is to feel good about themselves and the choices they make.

"Raising self-esteem and helping children develop and practice their own strategies for dealing with issues that effect them is very important and this is what we want to achieve through the roadshow."