VOLUNTEERS who helped revitalise two run-down areas of Bishop Auckland have been rewarded at a reception.

The five members of the Bishop Auckland Prince's Trust Team 11 were given certificates to mark their hard work in cleaning up the town over the past two months.

The group, which is based in the town in partnership with Stockton Riverside College, worked on land near Auckland Castle and a site behind Currys, in Newgate Street. The team came up with plans, cleared several tonnes of rubbish from each site and laid sand and gravel to improve the appearance of the plots.

The volunteers, aged between 16 and 25, were given their awards by town centre manager Derek Toon, who said: "I tried for two years to get people from those sites to clean it up, but it got to the point where we decided to do something. I gave them the two projects, and I am so pleased with it."

The group raised funds and secured sponsorship from local companies, raising more than £3,000 to complete the work.

Jo Hull, academic team leader who worked with them throughout the programme, said: "I think it's overwhelming. Just six-and-a-half weeks ago, these guys had never met each other before.

"The majority of them are long-term unemployed. To plan, fundraise and execute all of that, and stand in front of a room of strangers is amazing."