COUNCILLORS in Teesdale have been warned more must be done to help young people stay in the area.

Twenty-six youngsters from Teesdale, aged between 14 and 19, quizzed district councillors at an event in the council chamber.

But, a youth leader has criticised the number of councillors who failed to respond to the invitation to attend.

A straw poll held at the meeting heard that more than 90 per cent of young people did not want to live and work in Teesdale.

The six councillors who attended were asked how they intended to change these views and make the dale more attractive for youngsters.

Among the issues raised were affordable housing, transport, the lack of facilities and employment opportunities.

Keith Jones, an education in the community worker for Teesdale Community Resources, which organised the meeting, said he hoped it would be the start of something good.

He said: "If the councillors actually make the commitment to really include the issues that affect the young people it will benefit the whole of Teesdale.

"It's in all of our interests, all the issues that they talk about, like vitality and prosperity, it's not going to happen if the dale's full of old people, you need some balance."

Each of the authority's 32 councillors were invited to attend the meeting, but only three councillors sent their apologies.

Mr Jones added: "I think that's quite damning, I find it deplorable. What kind of message does that send out?

"But to be positive, each of the councillors who did attend were very interested in what the young people had to say."