YOUNG movers and shakers involved in Paignton's £5million Parkfield youth centre project have earned special recognition from police chiefs.

The youngsters have each been awarded Good Citizenship certificates for taking an active role in getting the ambitious scheme up and running.

Bay police spokesman Insp Richard McLellan said: "They were part of the steering group who went off to Parliament and got involved with contracts.

"It was a wonderful example of young people working well for young people.

"They made a truly exceptional contribution which was above and beyond what might have been expected."

The famous five on the receiving end of the accolade were Scarlett Matthews, Shez Bullock, Will Bowles, Charlotte Macdonald and Mark Clifford.

Sgt Scott Bellingham has helped promote the police certificate scheme, which came from an original idea by Paignton teenager Kirsty Ogborne, who attends King Edward Vl Community College in Totnes.

She hit on the bright idea that youngsters who do good work in the community should be rewarded with 'fixed reward notices' — the opposite of fixed penalty notices meted out to wrongdoers.

So far, 90 such Motiv8 notices have been issued with 60 youngsters receiving certificates.

Recipients are also rewarded with vouchers for iTunes or cinema tickets.

Anyone interested in nominating youngsters for recognition can contact their local neighbourhood policing team.

Details are available on the police website

www.devon-cornwall.police.uk