A YOUTH club in Darlington is offering its services to help improve its area.

Branksome Youth Club, which is open to youngsters aged 11 and over, is keen to support efforts to enhance the neighbourhood.

The Cockerton Area Action Group has been set up to improve the quality of life for people in the community, by residents wishing to reduce the incidents of vandalism, drug abuse and under-age drinking.

Vice-chairman of the group, George Peeke, said that there was little for local youngsters to do and mistakenly believed Branksome Youth Club had closed.

However, Judy Bowerbank, leader of the youth club, said that it has more than 100 members and is open three nights a week, offering a variety of activities.

Tuesday is projects night, when youngsters can work towards accredited youth achievement awards.

On Wednesdays there are games, competitions and a general youth club, while on Thursdays in the run-up to Christmas there will be karaoke nights. The club also has trips and residential visits as far afield as Spain.

She said: "We are particularly interested in any project we can do, particularly within the community.

"At the moment, we have a group doing Christmas cookery. Another group is building a motorbike for a competition, and others are learning all about maintenance and health and safety, anti-bullying, as well as other issues.

"We would be very interested in getting involved with the action group. I have the same aims as the group and would very much welcome them contacting us."

Anyone with community project ideas for the youth club can contact Judy at Branksome Community Centre, on (01325) 380805.

l The next meeting of the Cockerton group will be on January 2, at Bowen Road Community Centre, Darlington, not tomorrow, as reported in The Northern Echo on Saturday. We apologise for the error and any inconvenience caused.