YOUTH workers are to take to the streets in Bishop Auckland thanks to a £173,793 Lottery grant.

Bishop Auckland Community Partnership is looking forward to expanding its already successful youth service after receiving the money.

The money will allow the partnership to employ a second youth worker to join Doug Hill, who is working with about 60 young people from the town.

Ray Sunman, project worker from the partnership, said: "We have been running a scheme for a couple of years now, but what we are doing is centre based.

"Obviously we want to reach more young people and this money is going to allow us to do that."

Thanks to the cash, youth workers will be able to concentrate on getting out and about in Bishop Auckland to reach young people who do not want to go along to the Four Clocks Centre, in Newgate Street.

It is also hoped that more activities will be introduced focusing on sport and leisure.

Mr Sunman said: "The partnership has been running for close to ten years and we worked hard and secured the Four Clocks building.

"Now we are looking beyond that horizon and are looking at the work we can do with the community.

The youth work is our first step to doing this."

Ideas for the expansion have come from young people themselves, who have been approached and asked what they would like to see in Bishop Auckland.

Mr Sunman said: "Ultimately we hope to try and get as many young people as possible to take an interest and influence the way in which services are delivered for them."

He said that getting the Lottery money showed the partnership that funders recognised the work that was already been carried out and gave it the confidence to carry on.

He said: "It is wonderful to get this kind of recognition. We feel as though we have been given more than money.

"This is saying that the work we have been doing is going in the right direction and that they have the confidence in us to carry on."