A YOUTH group has been given £30,000 to help youngsters living in isolated areas attend its activities.

Easington's Youth Forum has used the cash to buy a minibus, accessible by wheelchair, and yesterday members of the group were on hand to take delivery of it.

The Youth Forum is one of the latest beneficiaries of the Liveability Fund, a new national funding scheme launched to improve the quality of life for local people.

One of the priorities of the fund is improving accessible transport, and the minibus will be used to take young people aged between 11 and 16 to the group's functions.

East Durham Community Transport agency will provide the upkeep of the bus.

Following the presentation of the minibus to the Forum at Shotton Hall School in Peterlee, Steve Clarke, youth strategy co-ordinator for Easington said: "Thanks to the Liveability pilot fund this vehicle will enable young people to take advantage of opportunities they would not normally be able to access."