AN intensive practical course aimed at rehabilitating young offenders was praised by a Government minister when he visited the North-East yesterday.

Minister for the Office for Deputy Prime Minister Phil Hope spoke as he visited Project Phoenix, at the Community Safety Centre, in Sunderland.

Under the scheme, young people who have offended or who may on the verge of offending, are given the chance to work as part of a team to accomplish goals, using fire brigade training venues and equipment.

They also learn basic fire safety education and first aid skills, which they may have missed if they did not regularly attend school.

The project is run jointly by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Sunderland Youth Offending Team.

Mr Hope said: "Project Phoenix is an excellent example of how young people, who are on the edge of society, can be given the opportunity to turn their lives around before their pattern of offending becomes too fixed and could lead them into a life of hardened crime."

Fire and Rescue Service Deputy Chief Fire Officer Alan Holmes said: "Following six initial courses, an interim evaluation was carried out by Newcastle University.

"It was found that 44 per cent of the youths did not re-offend, with 86 per cent re-offending at a slower rate.

"The evaluation also showed that almost all returned back to school or some form of education."