AN update on youth facilities in the Darlington area is to be discussed next week.

Members of Darlington Borough Council's public protection and community partnerships scrutiny committee will discuss youth pod provision in the town.

The youth pods are converted shipping containers which provide youth activities and facilities.

Two of the three pods are permanently based in North Lodge Park and Lascelles, while a third is available for use on a temporary basis.

It has recently been at Skerne Park, following arson at the community centre, and at Branksome and Faverdale, following raised levels of anti-social behaviour.

It is hoped if more volunteers are recruited to run the pods then another may be considered.

In a report to members, Margaret Asquith, director of social services, and Cliff Brown, director of community services, write: "The mentoring for life co-ordinator manages the task of volunteer recruitment for mentoring. She is expected to return from maternity leave in September and will then restart volunteer training programme. There may be some crossover from this which will benefit the provision of pod volunteers, however, the funding for this post does cease this financial year."

The committee will discuss the report next Tuesday.