BORED teenagers in the Dorchester area are doing it for themselves by organising their own half-term holiday activities.

Following up on their research and DVD - Nowhere to Go and Nothing to Do - which revealed a lack of facilities and public transport in rural areas, Dorchester Youth Extra have taken matters into their own hands and arranged a menu of activities for later this month.

The sessions are aimed at young people aged 12 to 18 and will take place in the half-term holiday at villages around the county town.

The Half-Term Hang Out will be visiting Charminster Village Hall on Tuesday, February 20 and Puddletown Village Hall on Wednesday, February 21 between 12pm to 4pm, and Martinstown Village Hall on Friday, February 23 between 11am and 3pm.

Sue Bickle, communuty facilitator at West Dorset District Council, said: "A slightly different menu is on offer at each event, but will include a DJ Workshop, Pure Funk Dance Workshop, Funky Junk Art Activities, Digital Funfair and African Drumming to name but a few.

"Each event will also have a tuck shop being run by Dorchester Youth Extra. The activities are free of charge, and you can come along and join in, or just chill out with friends."

She said that Dorchester Youth Extra will be using the activities to help launch the West Dorset Youthbank, who could make grants in the future to help others interested in organising activities.

She said the West Dorset Youthbank operates under licence, and is a grant making body run by young people for young people.

West Dorset Youthbank member Chloe Slade, aged 18, said: "Dorchester Youth Extra have raised the funding to put on the Half-Term Hang Out to show what can be done - hopefully young people in the villages will enjoy the events, and perhaps apply to the YouthBank for funding to organise their own events for future holidays."

For information about the activities on offer, please contact Sue Bickle, community facilitator, on 01305 252204.