A SCHOOLBOY has proved he is a chip off the old block by starting a campaign group.

But while he shares his parents' passion for politics, he is calling for the opposite course of action to their own organisation.

At the tender age of 12, Philip West, of Gilesgate Moor, Durham, has formed an action group urging Durham City Council to take more notice of young people.

He was prompted to set up Consider The Kids (CTK) by his feeling that the council was wasting money rather than spending it on badly-needed facilities for young people in the city.

With the help of his classmates at Gilesgate Comprehensive School, 12-year-olds Tom Milburn and Stephen Horn, he has drafted a letter of complaint to the council's leisure and activities department.

He said: "Basically, I was just really sick and tired of the council wasting money and not considering the kids. Even though they know we are the future of this city, they think they can just go ahead and waste money. That angered me, and I thought I had to speak up for the kids of this city."

Among Philip's complaints are that the future of Durham's only cinema is hanging in the balance and that a city centre skateboarding haunt is being converted into a hotel.

He said: "There are plenty of areas for skateboarding - they just don't want to spend the money on kids. I have been talking to people at school and they feel the same way as me."

But while Philip is urging the council to spend more money on youngsters, his father Robert, founder of the Durham Council Tax Alliance, and mother Ann, a group member, are calling for it to spend less.

Mr West, 45, said: "It's a family at war - he wants one thing and I want another, but if he believes in it, I'm not going to stop him.

"Even I must admit that Durham council seems to direct things at older people."

A Durham City council spokeswoman denied that there was insufficient to do for young people and that it was wasting money.

She said: "We would welcome an open forum with Consider The Kids. If Philip or any of the other members gets in touch with community services, we'd be delighted to set up a chat."

Anyone wanting to join CTK should call (0191) 3860198.