VILLAGE youngsters who have nowhere to play have launched their own campaign to get a recreation area.

About a quarter of the population of the hilltop hamlet of North Bitchburn, near Crook, are under 16 years old.

But despite the rolling expanse of countryside that surrounds their community, the children in the village have no designated play area.

Consequently, they tend to congregate on the streets of a new housing estate, which has brought complaints from people living there about the noise.

But the young people say they have nowhere else to go.

Football is not allowed on the cricket field, because it could damage the pitch, and the only play equipment in North Bitchburn are some swings which are in a poor state of repair. Parents also feel the area is unsafe for children to play because it is badly lit.

Jackie Kyte, from the village pub, The Famous Red Lion, said: "It has become a very family-orientated village, which is lovely, but 35 out of fewer than 130 residents are children.

"The kids keep saying, 'What can we do? We keep getting told off for making too much noise, but there's nowhere else for us to go.' They just need a space, they don't necessarily need play equipment."

The youngsters have decided to take action and are gathering names on a petition calling for a play area, which they hope to present to Wear Valley District Council.