A GROUP of teenagers have used their creative talents in an attempt to raise awareness of the consequences of committing criminal damage.

The 13 to 17-year-olds worked with youth workers and artist Steph Robinson to design a poster in the style of a board game, expressing their views on the issue.

The poster shows how young people have a choice when it comes to their behaviour, and encourages them to report anyone committing offences.

If they do and it leads to a prosecution, they could qualify for an iTunes or mobile phone top-up voucher.

Middlesbrough youth inclusion project worker Dez Ford said: "Over an eight week period, all the young people involved came up with some excellent ideas and artwork.

"We all had a lot of fun and the group worked very hard on the project and should be proud of themselves."

The squares on the board feature examples of criminal damage, such as Criminal Close, with a damaged telephone box; Damage Drive, with a smashed bus shelter; and Graffiti Grove, with a wall covered in graffiti.

Choice boxes surrounding these squares emphasise that young people can make decisions about their own future and help them understand the consequences of their actions.

The board even has a "Go 2 Jail" square, representing the more serious result of being involved in criminal damage.

Chris Murray, 13, who helped design the poster, said: "We all see criminal damage, like graffiti and smashed windows, and we'd like this project to help reduce it, to make where we live a nicer place"

The posters are being distributed by the young people in and around the Gresham area and postcard versions have been produced to be given to young people at youth events and on the Middlesbrough youth inclusion bus.

A large version of the poster will be displayed in bus shelters throughout the town.

The Safer Middlesbrough Partnership, Middlesbrough Council and Groundwork helped to fund the initiative.

The project has also reached the finals of the Crimebeat youth against crime competition.

This award recognises the work that young people have done to try to reduce crime.