BEWDLEY youngsters will have a safe place to meet on Friday nights in the town due to the return of a popular youth project.

The Tent in the Park project provides a safe zone with food, hot drinks, activities and advice for young people at the Bewdley Riverside in Dog Lane car park.

The Parklife project, which is being funded by Worcestershire County Council, will set up the tent each week for a month starting on Friday.

A trial of the project took place in November last year to keep young people safe and away from problem anti-social behaviour areas.

Youth workers are also on hand to offer advice and support about alcohol, smoking and sexual health as well as allowing the young people to congregate in a safe environment.

Katy Shipley, senior youth worker, said: “The Tent in the Park exceeded all of our expectations and within two weeks we had every young person out in Bewdley with us by the riverside, many without alcohol as they felt that they had something else to do instead.”

A total of 83 young people attended the project in November with most attending more than once.

At a cost of just £30 per night, the project managed to clear Bewdley town centre of young people and bring them down to the Riverside.