TEENAGERS have been given a pat on the back for their community spirit.

Young people in Newfield, near Bishop Auckland, were frustrated with the lack of activities for older teenagers to do in their rural village and decided to arrange a meeting with their local community association, to turn the situation around. After putting their concerns to the association, the residents now involve the teenagers in local projects.

A group of about a dozen youngsters, working with the youth scheme Young Voices, also began fundraising for a climbing and kayaking trip to Keswick in the Lake District.

The young people involved have now been awarded certificates from Wear Valley District councillor Wilf Dobinson.

Graham Pugh, youth worker with Young Voices, a project set up in County Durham to allow youngsters to raise their concerns with adults, said: "The certificates were just to say, 'well done for standing up for yourselves.' "