AN allotment transformed by a ground breaking scheme to stop young people turning to crime has produced its first harvest.

The plot at Queens Park allotments in Blackburn has produced its first crops following an intensive 18 months of work by youngsters taking part in Child Action North West (CANW) custody triage scheme.

The service diverts youngsters who have committed low level crimes away from the criminal justice system by offering them the chance to take part in community reparation schemes.

The Queens Park project, one of several reparation schemes run by the charity across Lancashire, was set up after homeless charity. Nightsafe asked CANW to take on repair work following a fire which damaged outbuildings and land at the allotment.

Bosses at Blackburn-based Nightsafe were so impressed by the work carried out by the young offenders they asked CANW to take over responsibility for restoring the site to its former glory.

Now fruit and vegetables grown on the site are being given to the team at Nightsafe to help teach young homeless people how to prepare and cook food and to provide meals for those accessing Nightsafe’s Platform 5 day centre.

Andy Kay, Triage reparation worker with CANW, said: “Working on the allotment has been a fantastic experience for all the young people involved in our custody triage scheme in Blackburn.

"It’s been really hard work to transform the site but they’ve learned skills they can take with them into the workplace, from woodwork skills and painting and decorating to gardening.”

Support worker Dave Aspinall, who supervises young people at the site, said: “Lots of the youngsters who work here have never been on an allotment before and they really enjoy seeing the progress the crops have made each time they’re there.

" They also help out some of the older allotment holders.

"It’s really helped them to engage with older people in the community.

"One of the boys has even been inspired to take on his own allotment.”

The project works with more than 500 young people aged 10 to 17 across Lancashire.

It was estimated to have saved police more than £185,000 between 2015 and 2016 by helping more than 600 young people who would otherwise end up in the youth justice system.

Jay Ratcliffe, volunteer coordinator at Nightsafe, said: “Having access to the fresh fruit and vegetables grown on the site is wonderful – it means we’re able to teach young homeless people how to prepare and cook food and to supplement the meals we provide to those who use our day centre.”