YOUNGSTERS in Garstang gave up their Sunday afternoon to help clean the area around the town’s Discovery Centre.

The youngsters came forward voluntarily after hearing about damage to plants and shrubs outside the Discovery Centre recently and spent several hours on Sunday cleaning up the area under the supervision of Garstang Police Community Support Officer Lisa Dennett.

She said: “People often point the finger at youths when criminal damage occurs but these young people have taken a positive stand against the damage caused and cleaned up the area voluntarily.

“They deserve a great deal of credit for their actions and hopefully they will make others aware about the effects of criminal damage and vandalism.

PCSO Dennett added: "As part of Lancashire Constabulary’s Operation Summer Nights campaign we are doing a lot of work with youths in the Garstang area to address the issue of criminal damage – including working with young people and giving them a sense of responsibility for their areas.

"We are visiting local schools and delivering a strong message to say that anyone caught committing damage could end up in serious trouble."