YOUNGSTERS in a village once plagued by anti-social behaviour have won glowing praise for making determined efforts to clean up their image.

Middleton St George parish council recently announced that it was keen to work alongside local children, in a bid to prevent them causing trouble on the streets.

The area, particularly the Water Park, has suffered problems with vandalism, under-age drinking and drug-taking in recent months.

Discarded alcohol cans were frequently discovered, while so-called "boy racers" drove their cars around at high speeds, late at night.

But a group of teenagers hoping to alter the public perception is enjoying success in its efforts to promote positive youth activities.

They have started running their own tuck shop at the community centre and will be hosting DVD and Playstation events, as well as other activities, under the guidance of Darlington Borough Council's youth workers.

The parish council contributed £300 to get the youngsters started - and chairman Doris Jones said she was delighted with the successes so far.

She said: "They have set up their own bank account, which our parish clerk will be a signatory on the cheque for.

"They're really being quite entrepreneurial.

"It's really heartening to see how they're getting stuck in. They're in there on a Monday night and we hope they go from strength to strength."

Councillor Jones added that the village now had 19 youngsters on the Duke of Edinburgh scheme - further evidence that the situation could be improving.

She said: "Whilst we have still got the naughty kids, all we can do is ask the police to deal with them.

"But the kids who want to live decent lives and have a decent village, they're the ones we are more than happy to work with."

The parish council staged an open day for local youngsters, showing off the activities available for them, last August and received an encouraging response.

Five boys later gave a presentation to the council on what they would like to see in the village and Coun Jones said the children had been told they were welcome to attend future meetings.