POLICE officers from Blackburn and Darwen will take on vulnerable young people in a friendly football match next week.

The event has been organised by charity Lifeline Project, based in Darwen Street, Blackburn, a drug and alcohol service for under 25s in the area.

The match will take place at the DW Soccerdome in Haslingden Road next Wednesday from 1pm. Zed Parker, substance misuse practitioner at Lifeline, said: “This is as a result of research into young people’s attitudes towards the police and vice versa, which showed young people find the police are not approachable. “The aim of this event is to enhance community relations between young people and the local police, enable them to interact in a positive environment.”