A YOUTH club in Abingdon run by Thames Valley Police is celebrating its first year of keeping teenagers off the streets.

On Wednesday, up to 20 young people, aged between 14 and 17, celebrated the Peachcroft Youth Club’s first birthday.

Run by police officers, Pcsos and volunteers from Peachcroft Christian Centre, the club is open from 7.30pm until 9pm every Wednesday in the centre off Lindsay Road.

Neighbourhood officer Pc Keith Morton said that since the club formed the numbers of young people registered at the club had grown from 15 to 45.

He said: “Certainly by introducing myself to the kids I can set boundaries. It’s easier to set boundaries with a group when we’re doing something for them.

“Underage drinking has gone down since the club started, along with antisocial behaviour.

“I can keep an eye on the shops as well and the kids know that if they are in trouble with me, they are really in trouble.”

Wednesday’s meeting was also a chance for the club members to say farewell to Pc Morton, who has joined a new neighbourhood team.

He added: “I will still try to keep as active as I can with the club and go there on my days off.

“We all volunteer to come here in our own time anyway.”

The club will now be run predominantly by Pcsos Mark Wakeford and Steve Hall.

At the club, members can play ping pong, table football, compete on the Wii 2 and listen to talks by visitors from different organisations.