POLICE are giving away free foam footballs in a bid to cut down on criminal damage.

Officers said they have seen a spike in children accidentally damaging cars and fences while playing football in the Highercroft area of Blackburn.

The giveaway will take place outside Sams, Newfield Drive, Blackburn, between 11am and 1pm tomorrow.

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PC Stewart Duckworth, from the Blackburn South West Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Whilst these crimes are low level, they have a big impact on the victims financially, many of whom are repeat victims.

"We want young children to be able to play safely near to there homes and hope that these footballs will reduce the number of damages reported to ourselves”.

Funding for the project has come from Lancashire Partnership Against Crime.

To get a free football, children are asked to bring an adult and proof of address.