FIFTEEN teenagers have volunteered their time to renovate the garden area of a community centre.

Teenagers from across Stockton and Billingham, who met each other four weeks ago, spent part of their time with the National Citizen Service renovating Primrose Hill Community Centre in Stockton.

Team member Amrit Muirhead, 16, said: "We heard that since the community centre reopened last summer anti-social behaviour in the local area has reduced.

"With this in mind we came up with the idea of renovating the centre’s gardens to ensure that local young people have more to keep them occupied and out of trouble.

"The garden can now be used for BBQs, a meeting place, a working garden and for other events for years to come."

Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North visited the centre to see how the National Citizen Service volunteers had made a difference.

He said: "The young people have achieved so much in such a short time. "It shows what can be accomplished when their collective skills and ambition are used for the greater good.

“National Citizen Service is a fantastic project that helps young people get new skills, meet new people and add to their CV.

"Well done to everyone involved.”

Amrit added: “The staff have been really chuffed with the work we’ve completed.”