YOUNG offenders have decided to hand over their one treat a week to children worse off than themselves.

The 12 to 17-year-olds at Hassockfield Secure Training Centre, Medomsley, near Consett, must earn merit points to be allowed a quota of sweets each Friday.

But this year the youngsters have decided to put the sweets in shoeboxes to be given to underprivileged children in war-torn eastern Europe.

The shoeboxes will be given to the Christian group Samaritans Purse International Shoebox Appeal. They were handed over by the new governor of Hassockfield, Trevor Wilson-Smith.

Appeal organiser Sandra Reynold, from Consett, said: "They've been fantastic and given us more than 30 boxes.

"They have to earn the right to have sweets on a Friday night, and they've just been handing them straight over to us. It shows there are some good lads in there." Mrs Reynolds, who distributed boxes in Vukovar, Croatia, last year - an experience she described as the most moving of her life - revealed that this year's appeal had already gone "off the map".

Last year, North-Easterners, including thousands of primary schoolchildren, contributed about 9,000 boxes and raised £12,000. This year, already more than 9,300 boxes have been received and £14,800 raised, and there is still time left for more contributions.

Also taking up the cause are pupils at Stanley School of Technology, who have been emptying all their toy cupboards and searching for gifts for this year's Christmas charity, Operation Christmas Child.

Boxes, which should contain £2 transport costs, no liquids and no war-related toys, can be donated to Consett library, or Uniform Services in Stanley, until November 30. To contact Mrs Reynolds, call (01207) 506385.