YOUNG people from across the Tees Valley have been involved in running campaigns to reduce crime in the area as part of a competition organised by Cleveland Police.

The Youth Against Crime 2001 competition involved groups of youngsters running a project or campaign that would benefit their communities and reduce crime.

The groups had to give a presentation of their campaign to a panel of judges from Cleveland Police at the force's headquarters.

The event was supported by Councillor Vilma Collins, Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Mayoress Christine Ruddock, Barry Shaw, the Chief Constable of Cleveland, David Nelson, the High Sherrif of North Yorkshire, Christine Davidson, from Safe In Teesside, and parents and tutors.

The winner of the competition was Bydales School, in Marske, east Cleveland, for its campaign to raise awareness of stranger danger in primary schools in the Marske area.

The group produced a short play, gave a presentation and a work booklet which showed the younger children how to draw the face of a stranger, and received an excellent reception from staff and pupils in the three schools.

The group members were presented with certificates and a cheque for £1,000, as well as an invitation to take tea with the mayor, in September.

They will represent the region in the national finals of the competition, in London later this year.

Runners-up came from Guisborough Youth Club and Thornaby Community School Youth Forum, while Linx at Hemlington, Middlesbrough, and The Blitz Support Group, in Darlington, were highly commended.