POLICE have praised youth workers following the success of a scheme encouraging young people to "climb, not commit crime".

People aged 13-24 years were given the chance to try adrenaline-fuelled activities such as climbing and abseiling, running alongside education sessions on topics including gun and knife crime, to break the link between boredom and young offending.

Nearly 30 full days of activities were put together by Consett YMCA and targeted trouble hot spots identified by the local police.

Youth workers and police have since compared reports of anti-social behaviour on the days sessions were running with the same day the previous year when there were no activities for young people and revealed there were with no incidents of anti-social behaviour on the majority of days the sessions were running.

Sarah-Jane Heslop from Consett YMCA said: "The kids came back glowing from their days out and they learned a lot. It gives them an alternative adrenaline rush and lets them discover the beauty of a natural high.

"It goes to show one of the reasons young people might commit anti-social behaviour is boredom. There are a lack of facilities and activities available.

"The activities promote leadership, self-esteem and good team work with an emphasis on becoming a healthy, responsible citizen".

Chief Inspector of Durham Constabulary Ian Butler added: "Levels of violent crime and anti-social behaviour are down in the Derwentside area as a whole and the work of Consett YMCA has played an important part in this success.

"The work of the YMCA engages young people on the street and diverts their attention away from influences which could lead them towards being either victims or being directly involved in crime.

"Carrying a knife or being involved in anti-social behaviour is a pre-cursor to more dangerous activities."