A scheme which aims to offer help to parents of children at risk of becoming criminals has been hailed a success.

Partners in Parenting, run by the Youth Offending Services in the south Tees and Stockton areas, offers parents and carers the chance to access a range of support and guidance programmes.

The service has worked with 80 families in six months. Colin Wilson, head of South Tees Youth Offending Services, said: "We tailor the support to meet individual needs including drop-in sessions, confidence building and anger management.

"The Partners in Parenting team has developed a considerable experience in designing and delivering this kind of support, which can be provided on a voluntary basis to parents and also to those subject to a court-imposed parenting order.

"The whole aim is to help parents identify their own needs and gain the skills to deal with them and make significant improvements within the family and home."