Teenagers hooked on cutting crime

The group takes 40 children on regular fishing trips

A group of young fishing-enthusiasts have been given £5,000 of funding in a bid to tackle youth crime in their local area.

Local residents and businesses say anti-social behaviour among youngsters on the Knaresborough Road estate, Harrogate, is a growing problem.

North Yorkshire Police say young people turn to vandalism and robbery largely because they have nothing better to do.

So now the force has formed the Mapplebeck Angling Association to give children from the area something to do.

A spokesman told BBC Look North: "A lot of the problems we have down there are down to the kids getting bored."

He added that the group, which caters for children aged 10 to 15, was formed after consultation with local youngsters.

The group now boasts 40 members who embark on a fishing trip every two weeks.

One member said: "It has helped it (the crime problems) a bit by keeping us out of trouble but it's just the older ones."

Another added: "It gives us something to do when our parents can't take us anywhere and we've got nothing to do."