HUNDREDS of teenagers from across the borough have been taking part in an action-packed weekend of activities to mark National Youth Week 96.

Organised by St Helens Council's Youth and Community Services team, the event, which had an environmental theme, was launched by the Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Alex Worth, who presented a £16,000 cheque to the St Helens Youth Forum.

The group had successfully gained this funding from the National Lottery with much of the money already allocated to projects run by young people throughout the borough.

The big three banks in St Helens town centre - Barclays, National Westminster and Midland - gave strong support to the week by staging exhibitions in their town-centre and Newton branches.

One of the many events organised included a survey carried out by all sectors of the youth service. In total almost 700 people aged between 10 and 20 were interviewed about issues in the news.

Many displays were held throughout the borough and a total of 43 groups - representing 6,000 young people - took part.

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