A DANCE club for under-18s has been launched in East Durham.

Now organisers are calling upon young people to use it.

Club Idol, which is aimed at 12 to 14-year-olds, and Club Envy, for 15 to 17-year-olds, were created after teenagers in Peterlee said there was nowhere for them to go on a Friday night.

A steering group of young people from the Durham County Investing in Children initiative then came up with the idea for the Friday night event, which was launched at Peterlee Leisure Centre just over two weeks ago.

The club boasts a £20,000 sound and lighting rig, installed by a local firm Burrells, a caf bar and resident DJs.

Now police are calling on young people in the area to use the club.

Police worked with Investing in Children over the centre and a grant from Durham Police Authority met the start-up costs for the club.

Detective Constable Phil Reed, from Peterlee police, who is to act as resident DJ on occasions, said: "I've done DJ-ing for two years as a hobby.

"I could be the next Fat Boy Slim, or Slim Boy Fat.

"But the idea of a night-club type venue isn't a police initiative, it's the young people's ideas. They decided they wanted this night and asked for help from other agencies."

Plans are under way to secure a celebrity DJ to perform a one-hour slot at the club, but the format of the night is up to the young people.

The sessions take place between 7.30pm and 10.30pm every Friday at Peterlee Leisure Centre, with the Club Idol one week and Club Envy the next. Admittance to the clubs is by membership only, which costs £2.50 a year and admission on the night is then £1.50.

Membership application forms are available on the night or from Peterlee Leisure Centre.