A GROUP that will speak out on behalf of youngsters on a Malvern housing estate is looking for ideas and members to help get it off the ground.

Two Duke of Edinburgh Way residents, Gary Lewis and Lee Morse, have come up with the idea of forming an organisation to represent younger residents and help keep them occupied.

"Kids get such bad press round here," said Mr Lewis. "They're always being told they're bad and that they can't do things. There's an awful lot of good kids and some of the bad ones do need help."

He said the organisation, called the Royal Estate Youth Promotion Group, would provide the youngsters with a means to air their grievances and opinions to organisations like the district and county council and Elgar Housing Association.

It will also try to "facilitate" if, for instance, youngsters wanted a football team, then group would try to find people to help and space to play.

Mr Lewis said that the youth promotion group should inspire more trust on the estate.

He said youngsters were sometimes as intimidated as elderly people because they feared being told off, and that encouraging communication between the two groups would help the community police itself.

The idea of forming the group came from meetings of a residents' committee currently helping shape the design of a £600,000 "home zone" project that will see Duke of Edinburgh Way completely re-built.

Mr Lewis said the project has seen residents become "more pro-active".

However, more people - young and old - along with ideas are needed if the group is to succeed.

Any ideas or offers of help should be directed to Mr Lewis on 01684 567954.