YOUNGSTERS worked together to create a haven in their street to help rebuild community spirit.

Tracy Stewart (39), of Grosvenor Street, Radcliffe, winner of the Together Taking a Stand award, encouraged children from the street to get involved in a hanging basket project, to create one for each of the 12 Manchester and District Housing Association homes on the cul-de-sac.

Around 15 children and teenagers donned their gardening gloves and grabbed their trowels to create the floral displays with the help of the housing association.

Tracy received £1,000 as a winner of the Home Offices competition after giving evidence at a successful eviction hearing brought by the Manchester and District Housing Association in May last year.

She will be using the money to start her own youth scheme, but rallied together the group on Tuesday of last week to make a start on sprucing up the street.

She said: "They all seemed to enjoy the hanging basket workshops which were put on by the housing association - especially because it was warm and sunny. We also planted sunflowers in pots and I will be measuring them every week to see which one grows the tallest."

Tracy says she is determined to help improve the lives of young people in the area, to encourage them to play together and to become good citizens.

She already has a group of 25 young people aged between six and 14 from around the houses in the street and has put the £1,000 prize towards the play scheme. If she gets her own premises, she wants to open it up to the children around the bottom end of Ainsworth Road, near to where she lives.

Tracy is still appealing for donations towards the scheme, including items to be used by the children in the clubhouse, such as kitchen equipment, sports equipment, games, toys, stereo and crafts.