YOUNG people from one of Easington's most deprived wards yesterday staged a show for elderly residents, to build bridges between the generations.

About 45 young people aged from 11 to 19, from the Eden Hill area of Easington, were involved in performing the variety show for 200 people at East Durham and Houghall Community College, in Peterlee.

For several months, the youngsters had been working on songs and dance routines, which ranged from a routine based on US cheerleaders, to duets and jazz music.

The event was organised by the Pride Youth Project (PYP), an offshoot of Pride, a residents' organisation, in Eden Hill

Most of youngsters became involved with the project about nine months ago, when PYP workers realised that relations between young people and residents of Eden Hill had reached breaking point. Problems escalated to such a scale that residents threatened to take action against one group of youths.

PYD then sent in outreach workers who got the children involved in numerous projects, such as organising yesterday's show.

Ann Huntingdon, administrator for Pride, said: "Young people had come to realise that many of the older generation had a very negative perception of them and looked for ways to change this.

"One of their ideas was to stage a variety show for the elderly - and anyone else interested in what they were doing - and they have been working towards this for several months."