ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour in Darlington is not a major problem and young people have an undeserved bad reputation, the head of the town's youth service says.

Mervyn Bell also praised the town's facilities for providing activities for youngsters, and said that participation in extra-curricular awards schemes was key in catering for youths in the town.

Mr Bell, who has been at the helm of the Darlington Borough Council youth team since September, said during his time in the town he has not found significant problems as a result of anti-social behaviour.

Although residents in several districts of the town have complained about young people's behaviour in the evenings, Mr Bell said that it was not a problem that could not be tackled.

He told The Northern Echo: "The words 'anti-social behaviour' are bandied around a lot, but I don't get the feeling it is a massive issue. Most other towns are worse than Darlington in terms of this kind of thing happening in their public spaces."

Darlington's youth service has already pledged to employ six youth workers - one in each of the five urban districts and one to work in rural areas around the town - to challenge any problems that might exist.

Officers vowed to improve and build on recommendations from education watchdog Ofsted, after they rated them as inadequate in every area, in a damning report in May.

Mr Bell has spoken of his eagerness to engage with youngsters to determine what they wanted to see on offer in their part of town, and said that existing facilities already formed a strong basis for providing activities.

"We are really looking to develop and promote courses we can offer to young people who may not achieve as much as they want to in school, such as the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, so that some people will come away with a certificate or achievement they can be proud of," Mr Bell said.

"We have got some fantastic places to work with - Maidendale House in Firthmoor has got a fantastic range of resources, and Middleton St George has some new sports facilities.

"We need to build up a rapport and relationship with groups of young people."