YOUNGSTERS in a former pit village have gone into the music business by producing their own CD.

Teenagers from Brandon secured funding from the Scarman Trust and wrote and sang the folk rock-style These Are Our Streets, which was recorded at Northern Recording, Delves Lane, near Consett.

The session was one of the last that the studio hosted, as the co-operative that ran it, and worked for several years on projects to introduce youngsters to music-making, has disbanded after failing to win funding to improve its facilities.

The youngsters met and planned the project at Carrside Youth Club and youth worker and musician, Steve Percival, who used to sing with Durham band Sugarwood said: "The group wanted to see if they could actually compose their own songs, write the lyrics, book the studio, design the sleeve and release a CD - and they have."

The song was written by 16-year-old Darren Cheesey and reflects the hopes of the band, called Streetwise.

Kirsty Hesp, 16, said, "We're sick of our reputation being spoilt by people from the newspapers calling us yobs. Our songs are about what life is like for a teenager on the streets of Brandon - it has a happy side."

The two-track CD was launched at the youth club's annual meeting, when the members of the group were presented with certificates by Pam Bloomfield, from Education in the Community.

The youngsters now hope to write more songs and possibly record an album.