GOVERNMENT money could help youngsters in deprived areas of County Durham overcome poverty and disadvantage.

Durham County Council hopes to win funding from the Government's Children's Fund for a programme aimed at five to 13-year-olds in 19 run-down council wards across the county.

If the council is successful, it would receive £3.7m over two years although some of that money would go to the On Track programme in East Durham, which helps youngsters considered to be at risk of drifting into crime.

Many parts of the county have, or are getting, Sure Start schemes that aim to support children so that they get the best of out of their school years.

The council has set up a partnership with the Children's Fund and Investing in Children that will oversee the programme. The Children's Fund was launched by the Government to identify and help children who are in difficulty, or might get into difficulty.

Partnership chairman Keith Mitchell, the council's education director, said: "The Children's Fund is aimed at children aged between five and 13 who are at risk of social exclusion.

"This means that, unless we take action, these children will not get the most from services like schools and the health service. They will grow up with poorer health and education, have poorer prospects and be more likely to get into trouble.''

One of the main aims of the County Durham programme is to develop a dialogue with youngsters so the partnership can find out what help and services they need. Issues that have been highlighted so far include the provision of safe play areas, providing interesting things for youngsters to do and transport.

The Children and Young People's Unit at the Government Office North East has deferred a final decision on the Durham programme until the council's plans are complete