A SEMI-DETACHED house owned by Selby Council is to be turned into a community youth house in a bid to reduce juvenile crime.

The groundbreaking initiative is being spearheaded by church and social workers, along with Selby MP John Grogan.

The large semi-detached is to undergo major alterations and a makeover so that youngsters can have somewhere to meet apart from street corners.

Council chiefs have agreed to hand over the house for a nominal annual rent of £150 a year, and to do the alteration work at cost.

Organisers hope to secure £100,000 in grant aid to help bankroll the project, which will include a "drop-in" computer suite, with access to the internet.

In clubhouse-style surroundings, youngsters will be able to play music over coffee and a chat, and there will be a room for private counselling.

The unique project is being launched at Brotherton, a socially-deprived area with unemployment problems.

Mr Grogan said: "There is a real juvenile crime problem, but there's absolutely nothing for young people to do.

"There are two youth workers in the village and they have to meet the kids on street corners.

"They feel they have been neglected, with some justification, and this project is a positive way of addressing that."

Village youth worker John Hunter, from Brayton, said: "We only wanted a tin shed, but it's just taken off and the youngsters are really excited about the community youth house.

"They aren't bad kids - they're just bored."

He added: "Selby Council has been brilliant. This house will not only give kids a place to meet every night, but also an opportunity to discuss anything from sex education to drug awareness.

"We've already formed a fishing club and a women's section for single mothers."

It is also hoped to develop a hard-surface playing area at the rear of the house.

Selby Council's chief housing officer, Steve Martin, said: "It's a house we use for homeless families, but it's only been used once in four years.

"We haven't got a big waiting list in that area, and the family living next door are fully behind the project."

Updated: 15:32 Monday, September 10, 2001