A GROUP of campaigners dubbed the "mums' army" has been praised for getting a much-needed youth club up and running for youngsters in a village.

Young people in Grewelthorpe, near Ripon, had complained that there were no youth facilities in the community.

They said they felt isolated and found it hard to get to meeting places in other villages.

Pressure for a youth club to be set up came from a group of mothers and the initiative was taken up by the Reverend Elizabeth Clark, a Methodist minister whose patch includes the village as well as Masham, West Tanfield, Well and Ellington.

Funding for the project has now been secured from Ripon City Partnership.

Mrs Clark has praised the mothers for their tenacity in sticking to their task, ensuring the project was kept firmly at the top of the local agenda.

The club, which serves the village with a population of about 300, marked its opening night with a barbecue where youngsters were introduced to the youth leader John Hunt from Goldsborough, near Knaresborough.

More than 25 youngsters, aged between 11 and 17, turned up and Mrs Clark was encouraged by their attendance.

One of the mothers who has helped to push forward the project, Debbie Jukes, said: "I got involved after another mother asked me to join a ring round to see how many other mums would be interested in coming to a meeting - and that's how we got started.

"In the summer months the youngsters are all outside, but in winter they needed somewhere to meet with their friends inside."

The mothers have arranged a rota to help the youth leader and are already planning fundraising projects.

The club will meet in the Methodist schoolroom.