HUNDREDS of young Christians will gather in the North-East for a youth conference this weekend.

More than 200 are expected to attend the Methodist Church’s Youth Assembly at Ushaw College, a Catholic seminary near Durham, between November 13 and 15.

For the first time in 14 years the event, which has been re-modelled from a conference to an interactive assembly, is oversubscribed.

Fiona Holmes, 20, from Newcastle, has been helping organise the assembly.

She said: "The Youth Assembly is ground-breaking, something totally new to the church, something that will let young people feel they are a part of the church.

"This will show the church who young people are and what we can do. We are not the church of the future; we are the church of today."

Participation development officer Jude Levermore said: "The Youth Assembly will enable young people from all different backgrounds and abilities to engage - not just those who are articulate and confident about speaking to a roomful of people."