FOUR hundred young people pledged to stand firm against racisim at a conference attended by groups from a cross-section of cultures and backgrounds.

Teenagers from Bishop Auckland organised the five-hour event at King James I School and Community College, where visitors shared each other's culture through dance, drama, music and food.

The conference was led by the Darlington and Durham Racial Equality Council and sponsored by Northern Rock, the Prison Service and Durham County Council.

Josh Stones, 15, who chairs the Bishop Auckland Yebo group - named after the Zulu word for yes - has been helping to organise the event since February.

The group is part of a wider network which the equality council hopes will expand over the next few months.

Workshops are being planned in Bishop Auckland and in schools near Durham in an attempt to educate young people about racism and the effects on victims of discrimination and bullying.

Josh said: "Just by showing young people different cultures and ways of life, we hope they will be more open-minded and tolerant."

Mo Boettcher, a racial equality advisor for the prison service and the equality council, said the network was effective.

She said: "It is working because it is led by young people. They make the decisions. We support each other and exchange information through our newsletter. We promote racial awareness and show how discrimination can affect people."

Pat Poinen, a Newton Aycliffe health visitor and the council's vice-chairwoman, said: "The examples these young people are setting to adults are tremendous."

The conference was also attended by Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman and representatives of the police, prison service and local authorities.