MEMBERS of Rossendale Whitewell Bottom Youth Club are fighting back against those who say young people do no good.

Teenagers have improved the area around their youth and community centre to benefit themselves and the wider community.

Youngsters, ranging in age from 13 to 18, worked with Julie Wickington of Groundwork Rossendale.

They decided to have a go at making willow-weave seats, to give them somewhere to gather when the youth club was closed.

And they have planted 400 bulbs and plan to put more seats along the footpath by the river and plant some trees.

Youth and community worker Ingrid Rawlins said young people had learned a lot from the project.

"It is not just the practical side. They have learned about the financial implications of things, and they have looked around at the area and thought about where things should go. It has given them confidence."

The project has been entered in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's Grimewatch awards.

And one of the young people involved, Daniel Barnes, has been nominated for the Grimebuster of the Year title.

Mrs Rawlins said he had been one of the keenest members of the group.

"He was here every day during half term, working, and he turned up every night when we were open."

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