YOUNGSTERS from rundown areas are sampling life at one of the North-East's most prestigious university colleges.

The 36 children from some of Middlesbrough's most deprived areas are spending a week in Durham Castle, home to Durham University's University College.

The 11 to 14-year-olds, all considered gifted and talented pupils, are enjoying various activities as part of the Government's drive to encourage more youngsters from ordinary backgrounds to take degrees.

About a third of the pupils are from schools within Middlesbrough's Education Action Zone, which was set up to raise educational achievement.

Julian Nicholls, of the action zone, hopes the experience of living and working in the castle - which in term time is home to college students - will inspire the youngsters to work hard and win a university place when they are older.

He said: "Not all are from deprived backgrounds or areas where there is low educational achievement.

"We are trying to show them what being at university is like."

Garry Sayed, 11, of Linthorpe, a pupil at Hallgarth School, hopes to go to university and become a doctor.

He said: "It is brilliant. It is fun really."

The youngsters are being introduced to Latin, computer work, music, conversational Japanese, decision-making and silk painting.

The summer school is one of a series of initiatives in which the university is involved to attract students from non-public school backgrounds.

The university was drawn into the controversy over elitism that was started by senior Labour ministers early this year.

Paula Stirling, senior tutor at University College, said: "It is important to target younger and younger children in order to give them a goal to strive for throughout their secondary school careers.

"Living and working in the castle will hopefully bring alive the experience of university life for these talented young people.