AN acclaimed scheme to keep youngsters off the streets by getting them hooked on fishing has won a bank's backing.

The scheme, brainchild of Durham police constable Mick Watson, was launched two years ago and has introduced more than 200 youngsters aged ten to 16 to the joys of angling through two- day courses led by expert coaches.

It has gone on to win the support of anglers, senior police officers, Government agencies and voluntary and public bodies across the country.

Now Barclays Bank has donated £12,500 towards the scheme's running costs.

Stella McRae, of the bank's regional community programme, said: "As part of our commitment to social inclusion we are delighted to support the scheme, which is giving young people the opportunity to improve their confidence by learning a new skill.''

PC Watson said: "The whole idea of the scheme is to give children from a cross-section of social backgrounds the chance to take up a worthwhile hobby that will help keep them out of harm's way."

Similar schemes have been set up in other parts of the country and others are in the pipeline.

Five youngsters who have passed through the scheme - Wayne Collins, 14, of Escomb, near Bishop Auckland, Andrew Appleby, 17, of Crook, Jon Soulsby, 15, of Stanley, Joshua Blythe, 16, of Durham City, and Philip Farley, 17, of Sunderland - are helping to promote it.

They will talk about the scheme to an estimated one million people at exhibitions and fairs across the country over the next six months.