FOR years, Paul Richardson was a graffiti artist, working the North-East's subways and railway lines.

Today, he runs his own business, as part of which he is supporting efforts by the County Durham Youth Offending Service to turn graffiti artists away from breaking the law.

Their work has been cited in the North-East's bid to become Capital of Culture 2008. The Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, which put the regionwide bid together, says the anti-graffiti project is an example of how the arts can improve communities.

Paul, now 26, of Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, said: "I had always liked drawing and I used to see graffiti when I was riding on the Metro."

Last year, he established his own business, Iron Elephant, in Houghton-le-Spring, and works in schools and with community organisations, helping young people find a different outlet for art.

He has helped the County Durham Youth Offending Service, which is investigating, with councils' help, ways of channelling graffiti artists into areas where they are less likely to offend and intimidate.

Debbie Cooper, of the Restorative Justice department, said: "The idea is to engage young people in their communities while also combating graffiti."

Paul said: "My message is that graffiti artists are not yobs, that they are not mindless, and they do need official graffiti parks."

The work is part of the Coordination of Social Inclusion Programmes (Cosip) in Durham, a partnership of agencies helping to steer young people away from crime.

Christina Blythe, chairwoman of Cosip and head of the Durham Youth Offending Service, is pleased that the initiative has been cited in the culture bid.

She said: "We celebrate anything that puts the northern region, and the culture and cultural service of County Durham, on the map."

A Graffiti Forum has been established as part of the bid, and is examining ways of involving young people often excluded within the community.