YOUTHS in a sprawling Hampshire village will soon have their own caf to hang out in, after complaints of boredom.

Whiteley has expanded over the past few years and now has hundreds of youngsters living in it - but nothing for them to do.

Concerned parents have now joined together with Whiteley Church and are launching a youth caf which will come complete with dance mats, video games, badminton and table tennis equipment, bean bags and lava lamps.

Michael Davidson, 18, has been living in Whiteley since he was a child. When the new caf opens on Monday, he will be one of the new staff members.

He said: "It's important to have some facilities for young people in Whiteley because when you walk around at the moment you realise there is nothing here for us.

"I want to see young people getting together and enjoying themselves and spreading it to others."

The youth club will initially run on Monday nights at the community centre in Yewtree Drive and will focus on youngsters between the ages of 13 and 17.

The Rev Barry Dugmore, of Whiteley Church, said: "We want to provide somewhere safe for our teenagers to go where we can provide them with support if they need it.

"We have volunteers from the church to help run it with a Christian ethos."

Niky Tyler, 39, vice-chairman of Whiteley Community Association, is also the treasurer of the new caf.

She said: "I'm the mother of a 13-year-old and a 17-year-old and always have their friends round our house.

"The children of Whiteley are bored and it would be great to send them somewhere, even if it is just for a couple of hours a week."