The church in Lancashire is set to launch a three-year pilot project in the county's prisons to cut down on re-offending rates by inmates.

And if the initiative is a success, it could be adopted nationally.

The project, which is already running in four Lancashire prisons, promotes days to allow families to meet informally, maintain relationships and plan for a crime-free future.

It is sponsored by the Home Office through a partnership led by social work experts in the Blackburn Diocese, which covers most of Lancashire, and will be given an official launch next Tuesday.

"We are trying to change the prison culture to reduce re-offending," said Peter Nowland, diocesan Family Life Projects manager.

"At present a dad gets arrested, but a mum is also doing a sentence on her own. Re-offending rates can reach 66 per cent.

"This is the first such project led by the Church in recent times, linking with prisoners' families, and it's a really new thing for the Prison Service."

Studies have shown prisoners who maintain good family relationships are six times less likely to re-offend than those who lost family contacts.

Church social work experts received 344 requests for help from prisoners and their families in the first year of the Lancashire pilot project, and are currently supporting 80 families.

Drug and alcohol treatment, accommodation needs and training and employment opportunities are among issues addressed through the Family Day contact programme.

The diocese, through its Board for Social Responsibility, is seeking to recruit more volunteers to be trained by its professional staff in Family Day development, said Mr Nowland.

Former prisoners' families are encouraged to consider becoming volunteers themselves once they no longer need support.

Around 100 delegates will attend the launch and day conference at HM Young Offenders' Institution Thorn Cross, Warrington, with experts from the prison and probation services and the Bishop of Burnley, the Rt Rev John Goddard.

A volunteer, and a family helped by the project, will also be taking part.