YOUNGSTERS got to grips with a load of old rubbish at a resource centre celebration.

Teesside's Play and Education Resource Centre (Percy), hosted the event to welcome its 1,000th member.

As the only facility of its kind in the area, it enlists the help of local organisations in donating unwanted materials to adapt as children's resources.

Thanks to more than £100,000 in sponsorship from the Northumbrian Water Environmental Trust (NWET), Percy has been able to expand its service to cater for even more youngsters. Volunteers had even more reason to celebrate at the open day, in Whorlton Road, at Middlesbrough's Riverside Park, following news of a further £140,000 grant from the National Lottery.

They presented a free subscription and a commemorative badge made from donated scraps to Joanne Powers, the 1,000th member to sign up.

Mike Cottingham, of NWET, said he was happy to support such a worthwhile scheme.

"It's not only the young people whose imagination is released," he said.

"Percy is doing a great job in revealing the possibilities to teachers, play leaders and parents, and also in giving industry a constructive option for its waste materials."

As part of the open day, a host of activities were laid on for children, including hands-on workshops, a stilt walker, face-painting and balloon sculpture.

Vanessa Newlands, a Percy coordinator, said the day showed the centre's work.

"Not only are we helping children to be creative, we are showing that you don't need hundreds of pounds worth of equipment to have fun."