An Otley project designed to help parents cope with their children has been so successful it may be extended.

KidsCope was first piloted last year for under-eights but can now offer advice and support on anything from babies who won't stop crying to teenagers who may be experimenting with drugs and alcohol.

It is the brainchild of The Otley Project - a team of professionals from the local education authority, health authority, social services and the police, working together to help the children of Otley and their parents.

Leeds City Council's senior educational psychologist John Wells said: "There is a good sense of community and we thought there was a good chance of running a successful project in a place like Otley.

"The problem now is to translate it into an inner city area. We've had 60 families attend over 18 sessions. Most of the time we just respond to crises and a common complaint is that we don't do any preventative work.

"Parents were really pleased with it. All of them said they would come back. It was useful in the management of their children and the scheme was independently evaluated."

He added: "Being a parent has to be the most difficult job in the world - and there's no handbook to tell you what to do. This service is completely free and confidential.

"We'll listen to parents' concerns and if we can offer any advice straight away, we will. Otherwise we may be able to suggest other people or groups who could be of assistance."

Seventeen parents were contacted for follow-up interviews to assess the success of the scheme.

From today KidsCope will run on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month between 2pm and 4pm at the Otley Health Centre, Manor Square.

There will also be a new professional advice session between 4pm and 5pm on the last Tuesday of each month. Further information is available from John on 01132429111.

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