TEENAGERS in five County Durham villages are back on the streets following the closure of their youth clubs.

Due to a staffing crisis, County Durham Council's Youth Service has been forced to close clubs in Consett, Burnhope, Witton Gilbert, Blackhill, and Lower Westwood and Hamsterley.

Youth leaders are blaming a lack of newly-qualified workers coming through the ranks for the staffing shortage.

Residents are now worried that some youngsters will return to street corners and into petty crime or drug abuse.

Martin Lightfoot, the service's community education co-ordinator in North Dur-ham, fears the closure of the clubs will leave teenagers with nothing to do at night.

"Residents will probably have worries about youth disorder issues now. Unfortunately, we had no choice with these youth clubs - they had to be closed down.

"There just aren't enough qualified youth workers out there at the moment to operate these clubs properly at night."

A change in working hours and a perceived fear of difficult teenagers are thought to be behind the current youth worker shortage in the north of the county.

Ten new workers will be qualified by next year, but that is too late to save the five clubs.

Mr Lightfoot said: "I think the pace of life is a factor in people not considering the work. People work longer hours, so they can't fit in another job at night.

"Also, some potential workers might find the prospect of working with teenagers difficult."

It is a different story in Chester-le-Street where the Three Ps project, set up by Chester-le-Street Youth Centre and the district council, has gone from strength to strength.

Covering the communities of Perkinsville, Pelton and Pelton Lane Ends, the youth projects there have expanded to take in nearby Grange Villa, Lumley and Newfield.

Mr Lightfoot said: "We want to attract recently-qualified people, or people who either used to be youth workers and have given it up, to come back.

"It is a rewarding job that performs a vital role for the community."

Anyone interested in training as a youth worker can contact Stanley Education Centre on (01207) 232565.