Prince's Trust volunteers have been working hard on transforming an overgrown site behind a Knowle youth centre into a useable space.

The 11 members of City of Bristol College's Team 162 have two spent weeks clearing the site behind Eagle House in Newquay Road.

The project was part of a team challenge on their 12-week personal development programme.

The Prince's Trust course enables 16-25 year olds to develop their self-confidence, motivation and skills and leads to nationally recognised qualifications.

When they arrived the site was full of bushes and brambles more than 6ft high. They had no power tools and so set to with scythes and secateurs.

They cleared the land apart from mature trees and then painted the grey walls cream.

Jamie Reddick, 17, of Bewley Road, Southville, said: "I didn't know any of the others at the start and I know them quite well now. I think we worked well as a team,

"A lot of the local residents have come in and said what a good job we're doing."

Rohan Hague, 17, of Bristol, said: "The first week clearing the site was hard work. The second week we picked up all the rubbish."

The other team members were Edwin Ascott, 30, Robbecca Barber, 17, Daniel Bristow, 18, Robert Friend, 18, Amar Irving, 16, Dean Kambitis, 18, Craig Sansom, 18, Seb Stiddard-Jenkins, 19, and Simon Little, 29.

More than 73 per cent of unemployed young people who go on Prince's Trust courses find work or go into further education or training.

Team leader Edd (c) Richardson, said: "The team have been working really hard together and I'm amazed at how much they achieved in just two weeks.

"It's been a really great team effort. None of them had ever done anything like this before and they have had to clear the area by hand."

Able Waste supplied two skips for free for the team and paint was supplied by Johnson Leyland Paint.

Further information about The Prince's Trust is available on 0800 842 842.