THREE schemes aimed at tackling youth crime in Blackburn and Darwen have been given a £1 million boost.

The Youth Justice Board has pledged to hand over £400,000 and the rest of the cash is being donated by the town hall.

A large slice of the money will go on a project designed cut down on crime in Whitebirk and Mill Hill.

The two areas were labelled crime "hotspots" in a recent audit of the borough and residents have complained of problems with rowdy youths and young vandals.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's youth offending team, the Groundwork Youth Trust, the police and East Lancashire Lifeline have been working together for several months on finding funding for the three projects.

There will be more money for a counsellor to work with the Youth Offending Team. The adviser will give help to young offenders with drug problems. A scheme already in operation which provides 16 to 17-year-olds who have fallen foul of the law help and advice is also being extended.

Extra mentors will be taken on to give young criminals help with finding work and to stop them re-offending.

The three new projects will also be linked up to the council's drive to improve public safety in the town centre funded by money from the single regeneration budget.

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Malcolm Doherty said: "It isn't enough simply to punish young people, we have to look at why youngsters become involved in drugs and in crime, and see how we can stop them becoming persistent offenders,

"We are delighted at the outcome of these bids for extra funding that will help us work with our partners to give more young people a chance to move towards a crime free life."

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