YOUTH clubs designed to give youngsters something to do on Friday nights are celebrating a successful start after more than 50 people attended one of the first sessions.

Five leisure centres in Durham City are running the Friday night youth clubs, with activities for children aged from eight to 16.

Brian Byrne, manager of the Abbey Leisure Centre, at Pity Me, said; "We are extremely pleased with the response to the Friday night clubs.

"We've had 54 young people attending the sessions here.

"There is a range of activities on offer, including table tennis, football and squash, as well as the social side of things with music and dance."

The youth nights are proving to be so successful that the Durham City Council's leisure development team is now looking to launch a programme of activities for young people.

Club DC will be launched later this year and will include the youth clubs as well as more activities for young people, including sports and dance nights.

Some of the youth club sessions are run from the leisure centre's main halls and this has meant some adult activities have had to be relocated.

However, there are still plenty of opportunities for adult activities throughout the week at all of the centres with badminton and five-a side still available at Coxhoe and Meadowfield on a Friday night.

For more information on activities, contact Jill Wood, City of Durham leisure development office on 0191-301 8226.