YOUNGSTERS on Teesside are taking part in a scheme to help steer them away from trouble.

Pupils from Fairfield Primary School, Stockton, are sowing the seeds of a successful future with the help of the Tree initiative.

Towards Responsibility for Education and Employment rewards children who have been good at home and school by enabling them to grow a computer-based virtual tree.

Pupils as young as five are awarded a leaf for being well-behaved and use online software to grow their trees.

The scheme, which encourages good behaviour and responsibility, has been developed by Sunderland-based company SkillsPath with the help of headteachers and pupils and senior business people.