YOUNG people are to give their community group a new image in a bid to win back members.

Members of the Shildon Junior Neighbourhood Watch Group embark on dozens of ventures every month, whether it is raising money for a family disco, making trips to theme parks or clearing litter from the village, but the group seems to have suffered from its title.

Membership has halved and organiser Linda Rowland thinks this is partly down to self-conscious teenagers being put off by the image that the name presents.

So the group management has decided to let youngsters come up with their own name and design baseball caps and T-shirts.

Ms Rowland said: "I don't think everyone realises what the group is all about.

"I think they picture all the Neighbourhood Watch stickers they see in windows and think it is something to do with the adults' group.

"It starts out with the same basis - of watching out for the community - but our group actually goes out and helps people.

"The kids don't take money for what they do, which could be painting over graffiti, litter picking, or helping elderly people mow their lawn. Their payment is all the trips we go on, and the fun things we do.

"We also want to show people that not all the kids hang around on the street corners."

For more details, contact Ms Rowland on (01388) 778965.