COMMUNITY Rangers at Sedgefield Borough Council are encouraging young people at secondary schools to be model citizens of the future.

The Jaffle, the rangers' version of a raffle, is taking place in six of the seven secondary schools across the borough, targeting up to 4,000 young people.

It is a community reward for children who have earned merits and commendations in school and in the community. Every child at secondary school is issued with a free Community Ranger smart card.

The cards are used as a method of payment at lunchtimes - the cashless system aims to reduce incidences of bullying - and students can earn points for choosing healthy options.School merits ca be converted into points on the card.

As well as being able to use the points at all the local leisure centres for money off, with ten points equivalent to 1p, pupils can choose to buy Jaffle tickets for 100 points.

Twice a year, Community Rangers will attend the school in order to draw the Jaffle, which rewards the triers in the school and community. Each school has its own Jaffle and prizes. Draws have already taken place at Ferryhill and Tudhoe Comprehensives, and are planned at Sedgefield Community College, Spennymoor Comprehensive, Sunnydale Comprehensive, in Shildon, and Greenfield Comprehensive, in Newton Aycliffe.

Rewards include vouchers for HMV, JJB Sports, Dixons, WH Smith and Pizza Hut, a Joycam, Showcase Cinema gift pack, Community Rangers t-shirt, free passes for Wet'n'Wild, JJB Sports voucher, a camera, quad biking, and tickets to see the S-Club United tour.