ARTISTIC young people have helped to fly the flag for their neighbourhood as part of the New Deal for Communities (NDC) programme in west Middlesbrough.

A dozen youngsters from the West Lane Youth Forum helped to design three flags which are now flying in Stockton Road, opposite Macmillan College.

The flags were produced as part of the Linkages project, which is co-ordinated by Middlesbrough Council Arts Development Team and textile artist Jill Clay, and funded by NDC.

Linkages aims to use art to get people of different generations, abilities and backgrounds working together to promote the area where they live.

Fifteen brightly coloured flags are already flying throughout west Middlesbrough as part of the first phase of the project and the three new flags are now helping brighten up the Stockton Road area. They are a representation of what young people class as their favourite pastime - sport.

Mayor of Middlesbrough, Councillor Patricia Walker, said: "It's all too easy to criticise young people today, but these youngsters have shown how well they can work together and do something positive for the community."