YOUNG binge-drinkers are being targeted by a campaign that will be launched in South-West Durham and Darlington this week.

The Nightsafe campaign is a joint initiative by the Darlington, Sedgefield and Wear and Tees Community Partnerships.

It will target 18 to 24-year-old men in particular, and is timed to coincide with festive celebrations and the new Licensing Act, which comes into force at the end of the week.

The partnerships will meet at the Redworth Hall Hotel, near Newton Aycliffe, on Friday, where the full extent of how the campaign will work will be revealed.

In a blaze of publicity, a series of provocative adverts will be placed on the back of buses on posters and beer mats.

The message is clear - drink sensibly, know your limits and avoid that extra drink and always walk away from trouble.

The launch comes a year after a pilot version of Nightsafe took to the streets in Bishop Auckland and the surrounding area.

Crook's community inspector George Ledger said it had been successful by developing closer links between the police and licensed premises.

Insp Ledger said he welcomed the prospect of it now reaching wider communities throughout the Darlington and South-West Durham areas.

He said: "Those who drink too much alcohol often find themselves in situations they would avoid if they were sober. In the case of young men, it tends to involve violence whereas young women take chances regarding their personal safety, making them vulnerable.

"The whole idea behind this is to reduce anti-social behaviour and alcohol fuelled violence, thereby improving the quality of life for people in the town centres.

"Coupled with this, we want to ensure those people consuming alcohol in licensed premises can do so in a safe, pleasant environment."

* In The Northern Echo tomorrow, Bishop Middleham taxi driver Tony Brimm pledges his support for the campaign and talks of how he hopes it will work.