THOUSANDS of schoolchildren will learn about the consequences of anti-social behaviour during an event starting today.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Day (Asbad), organised by the Hartlepool Anti-Social Behaviour Unit and the Safer Hartlepool Partnership, aims to raise youngsters' awareness about the impact of unruly conduct on communities.

The event will use workshops and role-play on various aspects of anti-social behaviour, including group intimidation, bonfires and fireworks and bullying.

Asbad starts in the Borough Hall, on Hartlepool's Headland, and will run until Friday.

All of the town's year eight pupils - about 1,200 in total - are being offered the opportunity to attend.

Anti-social behaviour officer Rebecca Buttery, who has organised the event, said: "Young people are often perceived by others to be causing anti-social behaviour, but the youngsters themselves may not even be aware of this.

"The aim of this event is to get every year eight pupil in Hartlepool to think more about their behaviour and help them to become good citizens."

Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond, chairman of the Safer Hartlepool Partnership, said: "The partnership is dedicated to reducing the amount of crime and anti-social behaviour occurring in the town.

"Our main aims in launching this initiative are to impress upon young people the importance of thinking before acting and taking responsibility for the consequences of their behaviour.

"We hope to influence the young people taking part at a crucial stage of their personal development."

This is the first year of the initiative and all parties involved, including the fire brigade, police and council, hope it will continue to target youngsters over the coming years.

During the sessions, there will be a mocked-up row of shops and a role-play in which youngsters will be asked to identify intimidation and how the victims may feel.

Sally Forth, Hartlepool's anti-social behaviour co-ordinator, said: "We are not saying Hartlepool is worse than other areas in the country, but we want to be proactive.

"By educating youngsters at this early age, we hope to make them realise the consequences of their behaviour."