YOUNG people in Blackburn are set to rap their way to better health.

A group in the Bank Top area plan to produce their own CDs to promote healthier lifestyles.

The youngsters have successfully bid for a £2,500 grant from the Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chest fund to buy recording equipment.

Six teenagers, including Emma Scholes and Nick Morris, are the brains behind the Youth Peer Project.

Nick, 17, who has just finished a qualification in leisure and recreation at St Mary's RC College, said: "This will help keep kids in the Bank Top area off the streets while teaching them more about health awareness. Music can be a very effective method of getting across information and hopefully this will help to reduce problems such as teenage pregnancy and drug addiction."

Emma, 16, who is studying for two performance art A Levels at Blackburn College, said: "We know from our first music workshop that this is a great way to help young people express their views about health issues that concern them most such as diet, alcohol, drugs, sexual health and physical activity."

The idea originated among various youth groups last summer, who were using the Healthy Living Centre in Bank Top. Abdul Mulla, Healthy Living Centre co-ordinator at Bank Top, said: "Different youth groups worked on each topic, a mixture of rap music and song writing techniques were used.

"The finished work was burned on to a CD and each young person received a copy. The young people enjoyed the project very much and wanted to be involved again but this time as facilitators. "