YOUTH projects throughout East Lancashire have received grants to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, pledged more than £6,000 from his Community Action Fund.

Four organisations in Darwen, Clitheroe and Burnley will benefit. The money will be used to teach youngsters new skills, organise sporting activities, and plan day trips.

In the Wensley Fold area of Blackburn, £2,000 has been given to Cheets Not Streets, to fund a 13-week summer project.

John Roberts, project development manager, said: “A lot of the kids who come to us are from poor or dysfunctional families and they don’t get treats in the summer. We have match-funding, so the total project is costing £3,500, and we can make a huge difference to kids’ lives with that.”

Dall Street Residents’ Association, based at Burnley Wood Community Centre, was awarded £1,500 for its project to cut crime with sports activities.

Project manager Karen Heseltine said: “We want to buy sports equipment so we can keep children off the streets and give them structured sessions.”

Clitheroe Youth Forum secured £1,250 towards a one-year project to put on activities for youngsters in Clitheroe and surrounding villages.

Organiser Melrose Diack said the forum still needed match-funding for the project, which will include activities including gardening, arts and crafts and kayaking.

The Fraser Street Project was given £1,500 for its Get Me Out of Here summer project in Burnley.

Fran Monk, project leader, said: “This money will enable us to offer free places on trips to young people who would otherwise miss out, and run workshops.”

Mr Grunshaw said: “I want to ensure this money is used to make a real difference to the lives of people across Lancashire.

“I am confident the projects I have agreed to fund will do this, and I was impressed by the passion and enthusiasm which shone through in the applications.”