There are many responsibilities which come with citizenship, whatever age we are. Unfortunately there are some people, adults and children alike, who fail to embrace those responsibilities or even in many cases to understand what they are. As a result their contribution to the community is likely to be a negative rather than positive one.

Anything which can turn that situation around has to be welcomed. The new computer game launched on a West Yorkshire Police website, for instance, is an imaginative and commendable way of encouraging young people to see their community in a different light and learn ways of contributing positively to it.

By focusing on good deeds and acts of kindness and asking players to confront some of the issues facing modern society such as race and hate crimes, theft and personal safety, and even something as basic as the need for litter bins, it should help to focus young minds through a medium with which they are familiar.

As a contrast to this useful exercise in "virtual citizenship", pupils of Oakworth School at Keighley deserve a pat on the back for their hands-on approach to involvement with their local community. By putting down their pens and picking up spades, forks, paint brushes and baking utensils for practical exercises at a residential home, village park, church, play school and railway station as well as their own school playground they are learning about their responsibilities to the world around them. At the same time they are becoming familiar with useful skills which should serve them well in years to come.