THE latest staff member to move into a Bishop Auckland community centre is youth development worker Alan Prest.

When the £1.2m Four Clocks Project scheme, to convert a Wesleyan Methodist Church, started six years ago one of its key aims was to represent the needs of young people.

The project, whose patron is Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster, has appointed Mr Prest to work with 11 to 25-year-olds.

He hopes to start weekly drop-in sessions offering advice and information about health, drugs and relationship issues, and post-16 options.

It is also hoped he can work with youngsters to organise activities not offered elsewhere in or near the town, such as music or art.

Mr Prest, 32, who has worked in Washington and Gateshead on youth projects, hopes to build a team of staff and volunteers for future projects.

He said: "Our youth project has great potential to support young people and involve them directly in identifying their own needs within the community.

"Sometimes they don't want to talk to an authority figure or to go somewhere the neighbours will see them. Here they will be offered the information they need to make their own choices.

"If several people want to talk about certain issues, such as bullying, I may hold specific sessions or group discussions.