A MOBILE youth club where young people in Darlington can meet and socialise has won Government praise.

The Blitz Bus, which also offers people aged 11 to 25 advice on sexual health, drugs, debt and welfare issues, was driven to the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Members of the Blitz Bus support group, made up of Darlington youngsters, gave Minister for Youth Ivan Lewis some tips on policies for young people during his tour of the mobile centre.

The council-run Blitz Bus scheme started in September 1999. It serves about 9,000 young people in Darlington each year.

Similar schemes are now being set up in Doncaster and Chester-le-Street, with Middlesbrough and Durham looking likely to follow.

Mr Lewis said he was very impressed with the initiative.

"It was great to meet the young people from Darlington, and to see their Blitz Bus at first hand," he said.

"It is extremely rewarding to see such a positive initiative, designed by and for young people, to bring vital youth services to the wider community."

Youth worker Keith Dillon, who accompanied the youngsters to London, said: "The group did a presentation about the bus and how it started off.

"The young people worked really hard and were a credit to themselves.

"The minister asked the group for their views on youngsters being addicted to drugs and how to deal with it. At the end of the day, it is the young people who can teach him a thing or two."

The young ambassadors also had a tour of the Houses of Parliament.

Jamie Dillon, 17, said: "It was good that we got the chance to meet the minister to express our views, but also let him know what young people thought about the youth service and how it has helped them in a big way."

Jamie Mitchell, 16, said: "Ivan Lewis was very friendly and he thought that the Blitz bus was great.

"We helped him out with some problems, which he wanted young people's views on.

"We also saw all the sights possible to see in one day.