AN ARMY of "bored" teenagers blew away the half-term blues with an action-packed day at Strensall barracks.

Youngsters from the South Bank area of York had a taste of life in uniform, tackling assault courses, shooting and paint balling with British Army trainers.

The event was organised by police community support officer Sarah Cutts, after police patrolling the city said they were fed-up of hearing children saying they had nothing to do in the school holidays.

So they took down the names and addresses of young people hanging around on street corners and sent them an invitation to Strensall Barracks.

The Army already works with York schools and runs one-day and four-day taster sessions during term time, but there are no schemes during the holidays.

Sarah said: "From our point of view, it is getting them off the streets, doing physical exercise and working as a team. It obviously worked because so many have asked to go on one of the four-day courses."

She said that although just six of the 43 participants were girls, they had "loved it" and shown themselves to be better than the boys on the rifle range.

Carole Patrick, of Safer York Partnership, also took part in the event and commended the "respectful manner" of the teenagers.

"It was fantastic to see so many bored children who aren't hanging about street corners and are fully-immersed in a range of new and exciting activities," she said. Following the success of the pilot event, Sarah is hoping to arrange a four-day course during the summer holidays and some one-day sessions for teenagers living in other parts of York.

The events will be open to 14-to-18-year-olds and anyone who is interested should contact their local police community support officer.

Updated: 09:49 Saturday, February 12, 2005