AN anti drugs drive piloted in Blackburn is to go nationwide at a cost of £5million.

And all football league clubs in Britain are being urged to follow the lead of Blackburn Rovers.

Home Secretary and local MP Jack Straw joined Chancellor Gordon Brown and Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson to announce the extension of the 'positive futures' scheme yesterday.

The scheme in Blackburn was launched in March last year and was run by Groundwork Blackburn's Youth Work. It involved getting young people interested in sport as a path away from drugs and crime and Blackburn Rovers were heavily involved. Announcing the extra £5million for another 80 projects, Jack Straw said it was building on the success of Blackburn and 23 other pilot schemes. He added: "Drug-related crime blights our communities. It destroys families and young lives and fuels a wide range of criminal activity, including burglary and robbery.

"I want this money to make sure the police and local communities have the tools and resources they need to take control of their neighbourhoods and drive out the drug dealers."

Alongside United striker Andy Cole and Rugby League heroes Martin Offiah and Bobby Goulding, Mr Straw, Gordon Brown and Alex Ferguson said that the involvement of local sports clubs and sporting heroes could prevent many disaffected teenagers turning to drugs.

The scheme in Blackburn had the backing of Blackburn Rovers and received £30,000 out of a national allocation for 24 such pilot projects of £850,000. About £500,000 was seized from drug dealers.

The project concentrated on 10-to 16-year-olds in Whitebirk, Darwen and Mill Hill and involved the local police, the council and the Groundwork Blackburn Trust and its youth works team.

'Have A Go Week' tried to persuade youngsters to try new experiences, while the 'Tall Ships' residential experience, FA coaching through the Rovers and the Lancashire Football Association, and sports leadership awards helped steer youngsters from drugs.

Cabinet Office Minister Ian McCartney, MP for Makerfield near Wigan, whose own son Hugh died of a drugs overdose, said people were far more likely to listen to sporting heroes than politicians about the dangers of drugs.

He said that it was far better that sport was used as a means to attract disaffected youngsters and wean them away from drugs than leaving them to hang around street corners in danger from drug dealers and crime.

Mr McCartney is now writing to all Premier and Football League Clubs of Britain asking them to follow Rovers example and getting them involved in the campaign.