A CHARITY offering Darlington's young homeless people an alternative to sleeping rough, is desperately seeking volunteers.

Nightstop offers young people temporary board and lodgings while efforts are made to find them a more permanent home.

The Nightstop initiative started in Leeds. Darlington was the second branch to open in the country, in 1993.

The charity depends entirely on volunteers who offer a spare room, a bath or shower and meals to a homeless youngster.

Each young person, aged between 16 and 24, stays for between one and three nights at a volunteer's home.

Once a bed has been found, the charity's workers can help the young person contact social services and other agencies who could offer them a more permanent solution to their problem.

Sue Woollhouse, Darlington Nightstop coordinator, said: "Sometimes, especially over a weekend, a young person may need more than one night's accommodation.

"But we usually have somewhere the next day for them to move to."

The charity is looking for new volunteers, willing to open up their homes to youngsters who are facing a night on the streets.

Youngsters can be referred to Nightstop by another agency or they find out about it through word of mouth.

Volunteers must be over 18 and willing to offer breakfast, an evening meal, a room and access to bathing facilities.

Volunteers can claim £5 a night for each person they look after, but many helpers provide the service free.

Checks are carried out on both the homeless person and volunteers to ensure they are suitable for the project.

Ms Woollhouse said: "Many volunteers do it out of the goodness of their hearts, which is great for us because we are a charity and need all the money we can get.

"The more beds we have the more youngsters we can help. These young people have nowhere to go and if we can't offer them somewhere to stay they could find themselves on the streets, which even for one night is not good."

Anyone who would like to help can call (01325) 467616.