A group of teenagers in Chipping Norton have had enough of their age group being branded as troublemakers - and have set out to change opinions.

Duncan Davis, Emily Manning, Holly Whitaker, Nick Frampton and Annabel Yeomans, all sixth-formers at Chipping Norton School, have joined their local Neighbourhood Action Group, to show that young people can make a positive contribution to their community.

The action groups are made up of volunteers who work with the police to identify and solve problems in the community.

The group of five pupils decided to join when a police officer visited their school and told them they were looking for young people to give their views at the meetings.

Emily Manning believes the contribution she and her peers makes is important - despite facing some hostility from other young people.

She said: "We want to get our views across and, through our association with the school councils, we can put forward the things that people our age want add- ressing.

'We have encountered a bit of intimidation since we got involved, but I think we all feel it is important we have our say in how our neighbourhoods are run.

"There are areas in Chipping Norton that you know not to go at certain time of night, the steps of the Town Hall for example.

"I suppose us joining up could combat the stereotype of all young people in the town as trouble makers."

But Holly Whitaker said they were not getting involved in the action group just to discuss issues surrounding the behaviour of young people.

She said: "There are other things that are important to us, and everyone else in the town.

"Parking is a problem in Chipping Norton, and bus travel for people our age is also expensive, because we're charged at an adult rate."

Pc Simon Towers meets the group at Chipping Norton police station every six weeks.

He said: "We were pleasantly surprised to have so many young people getting involved - at most we had hoped for one.

"We were looking for volunteers to represent a group which makes up a large part of our community.

"These young people all have a social conscience and they have all successfully brought important issues to the fore."