TEENAGERS have suggested to community leaders in Richmond how they can improve the town.

Four students from Risedale Community College spoke out at a public meeting in Colburn on Wednesday.

The young people said they would like to see better public transport and more clothing and sport shops.

Matthew Bromfield, 16, Alistair Kirkby, 15, Ashleigh Reid, 16, and Kirsty Slater, 15, told Richmond Central Parish Forum there was little for young people to do and they would like to see a sheltered meeting place built.

The group also expressed concern about the poor lighting in Coronation Park, which they said encouraged young people to congregate in the area and to take drink and drugs.

The teenagers were told the Ministry of Defence, which owns Coronation Park, will look at how to install better lighting.

Good things about living in Colburn, the students said, were the youth caf and the town's library, which has a good choice of books, DVDs, videos and computer games for rent.

Councillor Helen Grant, of Colburn Town Council, praised the teenagers for their well-presented case and promised to pass on their views to colleagues.