YOUNGSTERS have been using their green-fingered skills to brighten up two churches in Bishop Auckland.

About 12 pupils from St John’s RC School and Sixth Form College, on Woodhouse Lane, have filled tubs and baskets with season flowers.

They spent today (Thursday) delivering them to St Wilfrid’s RC Church and St Mary’s Church and brightening up the grounds.

The work is part of the Haggrid project, run by Durham Police and the Durham Agency Against Crime to promote personal development and learning through horticultural, environmental and community skills.

The group of youngsters will now be tasked with maintain the tubs, which were originally involved in criminal activity but have been donated rather than destroyed police.

Project co-ordinator PC Iain Robertson said: “The churches rely on donations and help from the community so getting the youngster involved is really good and really rewarding for the churches and themselves.”

He added: “The work the youngsters are doing is like an alternative education. They are doing a horticulture course and they get to do it in the community.

“If they complete it and engage in what we ask them to do then we reward them with trips like climbing and mountain biking.”

The pupils also get taught about a series of issues, including crime, drugs, anti-social behaviour and domestic violence.