YOUNG people gathered yesterday to have their say on how to spend £50,000 for a new community bus during a consultation day at Belle Vue Leisure Centre, in Consett.

There was a series of free DJ workshops by Dean and Ashley Johnson of Deerness, lessons in graffiti art, plus makeovers and a buffet.

Cash for the bus has been provided by the Derwentside Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and the consultation day was funded by the council's Spice project and Young People's Forum.

Forum worker Eleanor Seed said: "The aim of the day was to find out what young people would like for a bus in Derwentside.

"The kids have enjoyed it and have made several suggestions about what they want the bus to look like and what it should have inside."

Youth buses from Durham and Chester-le-Street visited the centre to give youngsters an idea of what their vehicle could look like.

While on Durham's Educational Resource In the Communities (Deric) bus, youngsters enjoyed video games, music and watched videos and DVDs.

Deric has been visiting Sherburn, West Rainton and Ushaw Moor once a week since February and youth workers on on the bus feel it is already making an impact.

Sean McCormack, Deric driver, said: "You can see a difference in the kids. They get somewhere to go and something to do."