YOUNGSTERS in Southampton spread a little cheer over the festive period by helping to spruce up the inner city.

Dozens of young people picked up litter and cleaned off graffiti around Mount Pleasant Junior School as part of the City Council's drive to encourage more youngsters to become junior neighbourhood wardens.

The junior neighbourhood warden scheme was started in October 2003 in Millbrook and has proved so successful it is due to be rolled out across the city in 2005 starting with the city's central area.

The scheme encourages young people to do constructive things to do outside the school and helps to tackle antisocial behaviour.

Southampton City Council's cabinet member for communities and regeneration, Councillor Liz Mizon, said: "This is great news for the children and young people of the central area.

"With this launch, many more youngsters can benefit from being junior neighbourhood wardens.

"This widening of the scheme shows that the collaboration with our antisocial behaviour strategy is really moving forward.

"Young people can now see for themselves the benefits of being a responsible citizen while having fun and meeting new friends."