A FOOTBALL coaching scheme that helped cut juvenile nuisance in Hyndburn has been hailed as one of the top crime fighting initiatives in the county.

Hyndburn Community Safety Partnership is showcasing the Football Festival project it organised for young people last summer at a special conference in Blackpool this week.

Football coaching sessions were held across the borough, culminating in a tournament at Wilson's Park in Clayton-le-Moors in late August.

The project was the idea of PC Mark Skellorn, partnership development officer for the borough's Community Safety Partnership, and anti-social behaviour officer Susan Brooks.

PC Skellorn said: "We noticed that juvenile nuisance went up during the summer, so we decided to offer some free football coaching to children, aged between eight and 11, culminating in a tournament."

More than 170 children joined the coaching sessions. Some were recommended for scheme after being identified by community beat managers and wardens as being at potential risk of offending.

According to police in Great Harwood, Rishton and Clayton-le-Moors alone the project helped reduce youth nuisance by 60 per cent on the previous summer.

PC Skellorn said: "We were obviously really pleased with that result, but the best thing for me was the positive comments we got from the kids that took part."

This year's Football Festival is being extended to include cricket coaching. But first PC Skellorn has been asked to give a presentation on the project to 350 delegates at a Problem Oriented Partnership conference in Blackpool.

The Football Festival is one of 13 schemes singled out for mention at the event, which is attended by people from across the country involved in tackling crime and disorder.

One will be chosen as winner of the Constabulary Rose Bowl. The organisers of the winning project will also be given the chance to travel to the USA to attend the International Problem Oriented Partnership Conference later this year.