DURHAM and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust presented awards on Tuesday to six groups that have helped improve the health of the community.

The overall winner was St Andrew's Youth Club in Fencehouses, which was awarded £250 from the trust.

Chairman of the trust, Lady Ann Calman, presented the awards. She said the youth club, which attracts at least 60 teenagers, had created a positive image of young people in the area through various initiatives and embarked on various health initiatives.

Other groups selected for commendation were the Fyndoune Peer Support Group, which trains young people to provide information and support to their peers on a range of issues and Young Disabled Person's Forum which helps people aged between 14 to 30 overcome their disabilities.

Pelton Exercise Group and Sherburn Road Shufflers, which leads the over-fifties in the Sherburn Road area of Durham on regular walks were also short-listed, along with the Drop-in Club, which provides play facilities for children and support for their families.