YOUNG thieves and vandals will pay for their crime by tidying up a town centre.

Under the scheme in South Shields convicted youngsters aged ten to 17 will sign up to the South Tyneside Offending Team's reparation initiative, which aims to make the town a crime-free zone.

Punishments will include removing graffiti, litter, fly posters and helping to tidy up the town centre.

PC Debbie Cooper, youth offending team officer at South Shields police station, said: "The people who will be enrolled on to this scheme will have been convicted of crimes such as shoplifting, theft and vandalism within the area.

"Where possible we will be trying to mirror an individual's punishment with the original crime, to give them first-hand experience of how much more time and effort it takes to solve crime than it does to create it.

"We hope that by allowing them to work in the local community where they live, it will stop them breaking the law again."

South Shields town centre manager Steve McCormick said they were delighted to be able to support the iniative striving to reduce crime.