MUSIC, dancing and socialising have kept young people entertained in Worcester as part of a scheme to keep them off the city's streets.

The monthly Celler Project dance for under 18s at Worcester Arts Workshop, in Sansome Street, kicked off its 2005 season on Friday.

The initiative was started just over a year ago by five Worcester 16-year-olds, from five different schools, as a way of giving young people somewhere to go and reduce anti-social behaviour.

"The entire project has been devised, managed and organised by the youngsters themselves," said Ann Nichols from the Anti-Social Detached Team.

"The remarkable thing is that the young people have succeeded where the adults might not have had the same success."

Since the monthly events began in December 2003, police call-outs to anti-social and trouble hotspots in the city on the nights have fallen significantly.

The running costs of the dances are met by the Safer Worcester Partnership - an association of individuals, organisations and community groups run in association with the city council and West Mercia police who will be monitoring the event.

n Youngsters have fun in the basement disco.