MORE young people could soon be learning how to throw pottery and to perform on stage in a Ryedale market town thanks to an ambitious move by a local youth group.

Ryedale's Child and Youth Group wants to expand the workshops it runs from the Memorial Hall, Pickering, by renting new premises in the town's Burgate - meaning three times as many young people will benefit.

North Yorkshire Police has praised the idea because it will divert young people's attention away from anti-social behaviour.

Community safety officer Sergeant Cliff Edens said: "It's imperative that young people are offered diverse activities. What I'd like to see happen is that the diverse activities are those that will interest kids that normally hang around on the street. Ryedale's Child and Youth Projects have continually impressed me and I whole-heartedly support them."

Jennie Brown, who runs the project with her husband Andy, said two groups, one arts and the other music- based, of between 37 and 40 young people, met at the hall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 4pm and 6pm to practice DJing, MCing, which is talking over music, and various arts, including drama.

The group wants to develop a resource building in The Old Tallow Factory so they can offer workshops with new activities five nights a week between the same times and involve around 100 young people a week.

Due to a complaint from Colin Coulson, of Burgate, who was concerned about noise, the music workshop will not move to the new premises.

Also, if the application to change the use of the building to a resource centre is given the go-ahead by Ryedale District Council at a meeting on Tuesday, it will be restricted to closing at 6pm.

Coun Coulson wrote: "No matter what good intentions Mr Brown may purport to have, the music in this youth centre will be played at maximum volume. This is not a reflection on modern use particularly. As far back as 1957, Buddy Holly chose to play the Fender Stratocaster specifically because it was the loudest electric guitar then available. Young people have always insisted on loud music."

Mrs Brown said they planned to get the young people involved in decorating the new centre and it would be a place where they could store all their equipment.

"I think young people need an outlet to express their creativity. We find that young people are very creative and need to have somewhere to go and express and develop their skills," said Mrs Brown.

Training will take place during the day for adults and rooms will be available for other organisations who want to run similar activities.

Updated: 09:06 Monday, March 14, 2005