CRITICISMS of the national Sure Start programme, which aims to improve the lives of children from birth - cannot be applied in Darlington, a committee has heard.

A national evaluation of the programme was carried out and published in November.

It found that in some cases Sure Start was making the problems facing the most deprived families even worse.

But at a meeting of the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee this week, members heard that the programme in Darlington was succeeding.

There are more than 500 Sure Start programmes in the country - the national evaluation looked at 150 - not including Darlington.

Pauline Murray strategic manager of Sure Start in the town told the meeting: "We have been working pretty hard to reach those groups who are traditionally hard to reach.

"We have a successful bump and baby clinic for teenage mums, we also engage with dads and male carers.

"We have worked with the Bangladeshi, Sikh and Chinese communities, as well as travellers and we have been acknowledged nationally.

"If the evaluation had come to Darlington, perhaps they would have seen how to do it."

Councillor Dot Long said: "Programmes like Sure Start start to show the benefits when children get to about 12 to 15-years-old."