A NEW initiative aimed at cutting the amount of crime committed by bored youngsters is to go on trial in Catterick.

Teenagers left to amuse themselves have been blamed for a growing number of incidents of vandalism and criminal damage in the area.

However, North Yorkshire County Council's Street Life Detached Youth Work Project will be bringing a new mobile youth shelter to the village to give young people an opportunity to enjoy benefits normally only available at a youth centre.

The shelter will also give the authority's youth workers somewhere to meet young people, to talk to them and to arrange a range of activities.

The shelter will also distribute information and advice on health, education, employment and leisure opportunities elsewhere in the district.

Other parts of the county that have already used the mobile shelters have reported a drop in the amount of nuisance and damage caused by disaffected youngsters.

Sara Collins, spokeswoman for the county council, said: "This is an exciting initiative, which we feel will help young people gain the skills to allow them to interact with each other and the rest of their community in a positive way.

"We will be encouraging young people to take a full and active role in working with adults to develop their communities."

The shelter will be on show at the launch of the Street Life Detached Youth Work Project at Risedale Youth and Community Centre on the Risedale Community College site on Wednesday.