A POLICEMAN gave a helping hand to shoppers yesterday to raise money for a youth project.

PC Jonathan Stoker, from Darlington, joined youngsters from the Blitz Bus project at the town's Asda store.

The bus travels around Darlington offering young people a place to meet and get advice about drugs and other social issues.

Jane Chapman, from Asda, said: "The Blitz Bus comes to the Asda car park regularly and is a real hit with the kids. If the bus wasn't here some kids might congregate here anyway and be intimidating to other people. The bus is a great initiative."

The bag packers raised £190 in two hours through their efforts and money from a teddy tombola.

All the money raised will be used by the Blitz Bus organisers to improve its facilities and increase the number of places it visits