CHILDREN in the Hambleton area are being urged to put pen to paper this Easter.

Members of Hambleton District Council's housing team are hoping they will enter a competition to help promote one of their services.

They are asking children to design a poster to highlight the work of the housing advice and homelessness service across the district.

Youngsters aged from ten to 18 are eligible to enter the contest, which offers a £50 prize to each of the winners in three age categories.

Under the Homelessness Act introduced last July, councils were charged with raising awareness of the problem in order to reduce the number of people who were homeless.

Eric Kendall, Hambleton's head of environmental health and housing, said: "These posters will be used to raise awareness of the services our team can offer.

"We want to be sure that if people need us they know where we are. But the main focus of our work is to prevent homelessness and we are busy going out to schools and local groups to educate people in these issues."

Mr Kendall said the winning posters would be seen in leisure centres, libraries and post offices across the district from this summer.

To enter, contact the housing services division, on (01609) 767176, or post entries stating your name, age and address to the Housing Services Manager, Civic Centre, Stone Cross, Northallerton, DL6 2UU.

The closing date for entries is Friday, April 25.