YOUNG people proved their worth when they lent a helping hand to a local charity.

Members of the National Citizen Service (NCS) volunteered their time at the YMCA allotment in Portslade on Monday.

The team of a dozen NCS members showed off their green credentials by cleaning up the allotments and constructing new wooden decking. Others planted and dug-up vegetables during the session, which was graced with a bout of warm temperatures and bright sunshine.

NCS is open to 16 and 17-year-olds in year 11 and 12 across England. Programmes run for several weeks over school holidays and are designed to challenge youngsters and help them make the transition into adulthood by working with local organisations and learning new skills.