A TWO-DAY roadshow which promotes rail safety and gives youngsters the chance to sample alternative activities, is finally arriving in Darlington next week.

The town is one of four places in the country which have been selected because they are rail-crime hot-spots.

In March, Stuart Adams, 15, and Lee Mullis, 14, were killed while messing around on the East Coast Main Line, in Darlington.

After their deaths it emerged that the town was the worst place in the country for rail vandalism last year and one of the worst for trespassing.

For this reason, Network Rail decided to target the town with its No Messin' roadshow.

The Northern Echo has been working with Network Rail to promote the No Messin' campaign.

Activities on offer include DJ workshops, basketball, climbing, self defence training, football, motorbiking, computer games, netball and wrestling.

It is suitable for those aged ten to 16 and will take place at the Dolphin Centre from 10am to 4pm, Thursday and Friday next week.

Dyan Crowther, route director, Network Rail, said: "All children want to have fun, especially during the school holidays.

"But we have a real problem in the Darlington area with children risking their own lives and those of others by trespassing on the railways, placing objects on the track and even throwing missiles at trains."

Vicki Smith, of Network Rail, said: "Building on the campaign we have been running with The Northern Echo in recent weeks, we want youngsters to realise there are better things to do than playing on the railways. We ask people to come down to the Dolphin Centre for two great days."