SMASH is appealing for volunteers to help turn round the lives of troubled youngsters. The local charity provides mentors for troubled teenagers, aged 13 to 18.

The organisation, which in January received a two-year grant of £72,000 from the European Social Fund to enable it to carry on, will begin training new mentors on May 18.

But before people can be trained they must be interviewed.

Project development worker Richard Roberts, said: "We are starting a new training course and if we don't have the volunteers we can't provide the valuable help for young people in the town."

The charity, based in the Limes Centre in Green Road, Upper Stratton, has 15 volunteers currently mentoring youngsters.

But the list of people waiting for help is increasing all the time.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer mentor and would like an information pack can phone 01793 829513.