Darlington'S youth offending team has come out top in the area in a national performance table.

The performance table is based on figures from 155 youth offending teams across the UK.

It ranks the youth offending teams according to a number of criteria, which include training and employment, parental and victim satisfaction and crime prevention.

Darlington's team, which works with young people involved in crime and anti-social behaviour, came out top for the Tees Valley and Durham region in the table, which has been produced for the first time this year.

The team also spent the least per offender in the area while still improving its service.

One of the initiatives used by the team are youth pods. These have been situated throughout Darlington to offer young people a place where they can learn and play.

They also offer advice and guidance about a wide range of issues.

Another approach used by the team is the reparation programme, which aims to help young offenders repay their debt to society.

Andy Errington, Darlington Borough Council's head of youth offending and community safety service, said: "We are a small team with limited resources and I am delighted that we have come top in the Tees Valley and Durham area.

"It is clear that the advantages of operating an integrated Youth Offending and Community Safety Service in Darlington are paying off and our officers continue to develop youth offending services designed to meet the needs of youths, victims and the community in general."