MOBILE youth centres are taking to the road to reach the most rural parts of East Lancashire.

A £315,000 project has seen Lancashire County Council launch seven of the special IT equipped mobiles.

The aim is that young people in remote areas will now be able to take advantage of the mobile centres.

Operated by staff from Lancashire County Council's young people's service, they will visit areas which do not have a static youth zone like the one in Blackburn for example.

These mobiles will supplement the street-based youth work that already takes place across Lancashire.

It is estimated that up to 1,000 young people a week will benefit from the large vans. In addition to having wi-fi, the mobiles will offer information, advice and social areas for young people to be off the streets.

They can also be used by young people to hold events and meetings.

County Coun Matthew Tomlinson, the council's cabinet member for young people said: "These mobile young people's centres will enable us to provide even more effective outreach services to isolated areas and deprived neighbourhoods where there are currently no 'fixed' services for young people.

“We are extending provision after consulting young people who currently struggle to attend our network of youth zones and young people's centres. "Despite contending with difficult financial circumstances, we are committed to making sure every young person in Lancashire has access to the highest quality service. This investment of £315,000 will complement the £6m we're spending on developing a network of 'fixed' youth zones throughout the county.

"New youth zones are about to be officially opened in Rossendale and Burnley. We're hoping we'll have the whole county covered."