AN agreement to invest more than £8m in young people in Darlington over the next three years has been signed.

The cash will be spent on a number of health and work-related schemes - including encouraging youngsters to set up their own businesses and volunteer for projects.

The town is one of 88 nationwide to sign a local area agreement (LAA) with the Government - a three-year deal designed to encourage groups to work together for the benefit of the community.

And Darlington is the first to agree to spend all the money from the LAA on children and teenagers.

The leader of Darlington Council, John Williams, said: "Darlington's LAA has the potential to radically improve the services that we provide for our children and young people."

Some of the £8m will be spent on helping schools offer more opportunities for young people, such as mobile information and advice sessions.

Youngsters will be encouraged to get more involved in sport, especially cycling, while money will go to projects such as the Westside project, which sees activities put on at Branksome School.

A healthy eating pilot project will be set up at schools in Eastbourne and at Maidendale House, in Firthmoor.

Chief Superintendent Peter Davis, of Durham Police, said: "The LAA represents a unique opportunity to support initiatives that will have a visible impact within some of the disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Darlington."

Apprenticeships will be set up so young people can work with the council's Street Scene teams, and money will be used to encourage children to walk or cycle to school.

Darlington Primary Care Trust chief executive Colin Morris said: "Good health is a vital element in living a happy and fulfilling life and the root of it lies in childhood.

"If we can reach a stage where healthy lifestyles become the norm then all our futures will be a lot brighter."