ROLE playing lessons in keeping to the straight and narrow are on the curriculum for more than 1,000 Middlesbrough schoolchildren.

Youngsters are to take the roles of judge, jury and accused in workshops on criminal behaviour.

Pupils from the town's schools will be asked to act out various plots and then to reflect on the impact and consequences of the scenes.

Teachers are being issued with workbooks which will support and reinforce the messages put across by the workshops.

The aim of the sessions is to instil the qualities of good citizenship into the minds of youngsters.

The workshops to be held at the Thorntree Youth and Community Centre from now until March will cover peer pressure, fear of crime and crime prevention, intimidation, garden, fire, home and road safety.

Deputy Council leader Councillor Sylvia Connolly - Labour's candidate for mayor - said: "This event is very useful to get across some important messages about crime, safety and citizenship in a fun and interactive way.

"We have a responsibility to these young people - and the town - to pass on these vital lessons in citizenship skills."