KEEPING youngsters occupied during the long summer school holidays can he a headache for Furness parents — but in 1994 the problem was solved in a flash.

A host of fun activities was arranged as part of Flash — which stood for Furness Leisure Activities in the Summer Holidays.

Plenty of Furness organisations got behind the scheme, including The Mail, the Probation Service and Furness Ant-crime Scheme.

The 1994 activities were spread over a fortnight and attracted 270 Furness teenagers.

The Mail, on July 20 in 1994 noted: "The scheme, sponsored by local neighbourhood watch scheme and local businesses, gets youngsters involved in a wide range of activities and sport.

"Among the activities on offer are flat water kayaking, archery, chess, table tennis, golf, model making, drama, gliding, circus skills, sailing and windsurfing, pottery, woodwork and clockmaking, rugby league coaching, cookery, paintball games, radio-controlled model planes, cricket coaching and rifle shooting."

Organiser Jill Curry, of the Barrow probation office, said: "All the activities for 13 to 19-year-olds are booked up this year, but we hope to expand the event.

"Everybody involved has done a great job and I'd like to thank them."

There was plenty going on for youngsters in Barrow's public park in 1994 and Park Leisure Centre sports manager Phil Cooper said: "There has been flat water kayaking on the lake, tennis, badminton and loads of other things."

A workshop for circus skills was held at Barrow's Nelson Street Youth Centre, where performers such as Jem the Juggler passed on their skills.

Youngsters tried things such as Diabolo.

The youth centre also hosted music workshops.

Nelson Street was also the base for prop and costume making for a theatrical production called Thor's Hammer, which was presented in the open air.

Thor was played by Ben Montague, Zoe Hartley, from Dalton, played Loki the mischief maker and Fiona Windle was the narrator.

The Mail, on July 25 in 1994, noted: "Youngsters were busy at the town's Nelson Street Youth Centre preparing to perform Thor's Hammer, based on the epic legends of Viking warriors in northern Europe.

"As part of the Furness Leisure Activities in the Summer Holidays scheme, they learned a host of new artistic skills, from acting to costume making.

"Many got their first taste of acting and voice projection."

The article noted: "There were also lessons on how to move when on stage.

"One of the tasks was to create Viking-style helmets from papier-mache and paint.

"The girls also had to perform in costumes representing strong, blonde-haired maidens.

"A total of 16 youngsters took part in the event.

"The plays were performed at Lightburn Park, Ulverston and Barrow park."

Everyone who took part in the 1994 Flash scheme was entered into a draw to win £100 and it went to Zoe Collins, of Goose Green, Dalton.

The Flash scheme was able to attract considerable cash support.

This included a £4,000 cheque which was presented by the Barrow Neighbourhood Forum and another £1,370 which came from the Institute for Sports Sponsorship.