YOUNG people who helped improve their communities have been celebrated at a North Yorkshire Police awards ceremony.

The Lifestyle Challenge Awards Ceremony was held at York Racecourse on Thursday, to congratulate teams of children aged between 10 and 16 who took part in projects over the summer holiday to benefit their communities.

This was the second year North Yorkshire Police ran the challenge, which is organised by PC Suzanne Asquith, youth engagement officer, and supported by the Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan.

PC Asquith said: "Last year we had nine teams register to take part and this year we had nearly fifty which is fantastic.

"The amount of effort has been overwhelming. Out of our thirteen winning teams, we’ve had beaches cleared,a community arts exhibition created, a bogus caller safety awareness campaign launched, funds raised for playground equipment, money raised for charity, and all in the space of a few weeks during the summer holidays."

This year's local winners were: The Yorkies - Kezia Haslam and Romy Coates-Massey , from York, raised funds for a youth club for people with disabilities by canvassing local businesses.

Woodland Readers - Mina Dunn, Natasha Simpkins, Sophia Minhaj, Keira Glover and Gemma Nelson from Scarborough made a conservation area for bees, bugs, bats owls and hedgehogs and a reading glade for young people in Cayton Bay.

Jamie and Chantelle - Jamie Sorrell and Chantelle Frary worked around York to convert a pantry for a disabled neighbour so he could have a downstairs bathroom put in, cleared residents' gardens, walked dogs and took local children to the park and on a bike ride.

Safe and Sound - Jack Lowerson, Sarah Embleton, Jamie Sockett, Heather Schofield and Owen Gregory from Harrogate made a graphic novel to highlight the issue of domestic abuse within teenage relationships.

5ICE - Brad Milner, Kacey Metcalfe, Luke Ford, Derek Fairclough and Callum Haigh from Selby improved the gardens of local elderly people living in sheltered accommodation.

Consequences - Nicole Thrush and Dani McMillan from Harrogate made a Powerpoint presentation to show their peers the effect that anti-social behaviour can have on a community.

The Terrific Two - Beatrice and Helena Glassett from York held a pop-up café to raise money for a sensory room for young people affected by Down Syndrome who attended a local youth group.

To find out more or to support and sponsor the Lifestyle Challenge next year, email suzanne.asquith@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk