FREE tickets for Monday night's Positive Young People Awards 2002 ceremony are being made available to the public for the first time today and tomorrow.

About 400 tickets are available for the event, which is being held at Darlington Civic Theatre, and which recognising the good things young people do in their community.

The Positive Young People Awards have been organised by the PS2K peer support group, Darlington Partnership, The Northern Echo and Darlington Borough Council's community education department.

Monday night's ceremony has been supported by the Learning and Skills Council, which agreed to back the awards as the main sponsor.

More than 100 young people will be invited to take to the stage to receive certificates recognising their nominations for the awards in three categories: outstanding achievement, contribution to the community and against all odds.

The event will be hosted by Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, and Darlington's former Member of Youth Parliament James Gilbey, who is also a member of PS2K.

The Stagecoach Drama and Arts School, which counts Pop Idol star Zoe Birkett among its former members, is organising entertainment for the event. She is also a nominee for a Positive Young People award.

The public will get their first chance to obtain tickets for the awards from 9am today. Callers to The Northern Echo, on (01325) 505289, will be able to have tickets posted to their homes.

Subject to availability, tickets can also be obtained at the main reception of the newspaper's head office, in Priestgate, Darlington, from 9am to noon tomorrow.