A CAMPAIGN is under way to get Durham recognised as the youth capital of Europe.

James Gilman, originally from Durham, has set up a youth initiative called Europa-Youth, which aims to develop youth projects across Europe.

Mr Gilman is now working with Durham City Council in a bid to get the city recognised as a centre of youth culture in Europe.

He said: "Our ultimate goal is to set up a permanent Council of European Youth, whose programme of pan-European youth events will, we believe, have the potential to make the city and region in which it is established the youth capital of Europe."

Mr Gilman said: "Under the title of The Angel Project, we believe this venture has enormous potential for the North-East to become one of the most important regions, not just of Britain but of Europe as a whole.

"Just as Brussels has become, in effect, the political capital of Europe through being the home of the European Commission, so, we believe, the Angel Project can make Durham and the North-East into the effective youth capital of Europe."

Anyone interested in the project can e-mail james.gilmanll be open from 11.30am until 4.30p