A YOUTH club could soon be set up for children in Compton Bishop and Cross if volunteers can be found to help run it

A YOUTH club could soon be set up for children in Compton Bishop and Cross if volunteers can be found to help run it.

The news comes after the Somerset Mercury reported in September that youngsters in the villages have no green areas or parks to play in despite being surrounded by countryside.

At the moment, teenagers have to travel to Axbridge or Cheddar to access facilities including youth clubs and the leisure centre and some have resorted to vandalism due to boredom.

Now Compton Bishop Parish councillor and Cross resident Chris Byrne wants to set up a youth club.

Cllr Byrne, who lives in comedian Frankie Howerd's former house, said: "Hopefully the club will be up and running in Cross Memorial Hall before children go back to school in September 2008.

"Funds raised at events held at the Wavering Down House will be used to buy equipment such as football tables and computer dance mats but I need volunteers, preferably parents of local children, to come forward and help run the club."

Cllr Byrne says the club will cater for children up to the age of 18 and will be a place they can go to make new friends, join in social activities and be a safe environment for them to meet up and chat.

He added: "I have already had some parents come to me and say they would like to help out but we need more volunteers to help keep the club going once it is up and running."

The parish council is planning a survey of the 100 youngsters who live in the area to find out what facilities the young people in the parish would like.

Anyone who would like to volunteer for the project can call into Chris' house in Webbington Road in Cross or call 01934 732013.