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 things for older teenagers to do in their village, so arranged a meeting with their local community association.

After putting their concerns to the association, the youngsters are now included 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 the Lake District.

Graeme Wade, 14 and his brother Derek, went on the trip after raising £800 with other youngsters in the village.

He said: "We wanted something in the park like a shelter so we could meet with our friends.

"Then we started raising the money for the trip, we held a raffle and went to the police station to get a community grant."

The young people involved have been awarded certificates by Wear Valley District Councillor Wilf Dobinson.

Graham Pugh, a youth worker with Young Voices, a County Durham project that enables young people to have an input in their community, said: "The certificates were to say, 'well done for standing up for yourselves.'

"They've raised all the money themselves for the trip, they haven't had any freebies."