A DISUSED Oswaldtwistle pub could be reopened - but without serving alcohol.

The idea to bring the empty Foxhill pub back to life as a place for young people to gather has found momentum after talks between police officers and community leaders.

If all goes as planned it would become a meeting place for under-age youngsters, who would also be able to help run the place.

No alcohol would be served, but pool tables, darts, a juke box and pub food would all be used to create a pub atmosphere, encouraging teenagers to come in off the streets.

There are also plans to have areas with free Wi-Fi so youngsters can use the internet while socialising.

Teens who helped out at the ‘pub’ would also be able to use it for work experience and to gain qualifications in health and safety as well as hygiene and food preparation.

The leader of Oswaldtwistle Area Council and Hyndburn Council, Coun Peter Britcliffe, said he thought it was an exciting idea.

He said it could become a reality if enough partners became involved after the area council was approached by police officers for ideas on finding a building.

Arrangements have also been made to examine the pub in Union Road to see whether it would be suitable.

He said: “If we can interest enough partners and draw in enough funding, we can make the dream a reality.

“It’s such a good idea, that we should do all we can to help.”

Neighbourhood Inspector Chris Saville, whose team brought the issue of a meeting place to the area council, said: “It would be a really good opportunity if we could get teenagers interested in something like this and get them off street corners.

“Gangs of youths can seem intimidating to many peop-le.”