A team of youth workers has been appointed to engage with young people in Darlington.

The 13 people have been employed thanks to an extra £340,000-a-year investment in the borough council's youth service, following a critical report from education watchdog Ofsted last year.

For the first time, different areas of the borough will get a dedicated youth worker, including someone for rural areas, who will provide new opportunities for young people and support existing projects.

An important part of their work will be to find and talk to young people who are not already involved in organised activities and see if there is anything the youth service can provide for them.

The newly-expanded youth participation team will be looking at the redevelopment of the youth assembly and reviewing how young people are involved in discussions in the town.

They will be looking to make it easy for all young people to have their say on issues that are important to them and also creating the Young Voice and Action Group, which will act on behalf of other young people in the town.

Training and accreditation youth workers will aim to expand the number of courses and training opportunities available for young people in schools, colleges and youth clubs, such as the development of a DJ course.

Another of the new workers is focussing on young people from minority groups, who may not be using the facilities already provided.

Councillor Chris McEwan, Darlington Borough Council's cabinet member for children's services, said: "The council is committed to providing great opportunities for young people and ensuring all young people have a voice in decisions made about their lives."