YOUNG people in Richmond have carried out a study into how empty shops in the town could be brought back into use.

Members of Richmond Youth Focus, a youth council set up by the YMCA, canvassed the opinions of shoppers and residents about how vacant units could be occupied and trading.

They are writing up their findings and hope to present them to the town manager.

The project is the latest carried out by the forum, set up at the beginning of the year with funding from the Local Network fund for children and young people.

The aim of the group is to enable youngsters to take part in decision-making, encourage them to express their views and provide an arena for fun and developing new skills.

One of its first projects was to help recruit a youth worker for the YMCA. A group from the forum drew up a list of questions and interviewed candidates as part of the YMCA panel.

The group was also represented at a parliamentary youth forum on the Government's proposed entitlement cards, which would hold identification information such as fingerprints and iris analysis.

Youth worker Arwen Rutterford and forum member Vicky Wroe attended the meeting in Westminster at the end of March, when the panel included Lord Falconer, minister for criminal justice, sentencing and law reform, and MPs Andy Burnham and Peter Lilley.

Vicky said: "It is important for young people to think about wider issues, such as entitlement cards and how they will affect our rights. Being part of Richmond Youth Focus gave me the opportunity to meet other young people with different views and opinions as well as discuss the issues with MPs."

The group meets at the YMCA in Richmond Market Place on Mondays, 5pm, and new members are welcome.

YMCA chief executive Ken Allison hoped it would attract a wide range of young people, including those isolated from mainstream services because they lived in rural areas.

"The development of Richmond Youth Focus is central to the work of Richmond YMCA in enabling young people to fully participate in their local community," he said.

"The YMCA building development project, the community skate park and all YMCA programmes are based on meeting the needs of young people locally."

For forum details, contact Mr Allison on 01748 824110.