INNOVATIVE young people from Hartlepool have won £1,000 and earned a place in the final of the National Crimebeat Competition.

High Tunstall School came up with a talking alarm to warn old and vulnerable people about bogus callers.

The school was one of five finalists from Teesside whose projects were judged at a competition at Cleveland Police headquarters, in Middlesbrough.

The aim was to get children involved in helping prevent crime, as well as seeking solutions to crime and community safety.

Force youth manager Christine Davidson, who helped organise the competition, said: "All the entries were of a high standard.

"They were very innovative and showed a lot of hard work; thought and effort had gone into them.

"It was a tough job for the judges, but High Tunstall School finally came out tops."

In second place was Whinney Banks Youth and Community Centre, which produced a video and rap song. The centre won £500.

The Wheel Based Project, from West Redcar Youth Inclusion Project, which set up a skateboarding facility, came third and won £250.

Runners-up were Kader Youth and Community Centre, Middlesbrough, and the Friends of Carter Park, Whinney Banks, who made an animated film. They each won £50.