A PRIMARY school is holding self defence classes for teen-agers after assaults on young girls in the area.

Staff at Newchurch Primary School have turned to a Ju-Jitsu specialist to help protect youngsters.

Together with youth worker Joanne Riding, they hope to sharpen the responses of teenagers in Rossendale.

Parents asked if the primary school, which already teaches self-defence techniques to its pupils during PE lessons, could provide classes for teenagers.

Mrs Riding, who works for Lancashire County Council, said: “My daughter’s friend was one of the girls involved in an incident in Booth Road in the village recently, so I thought something should be done to help the girls when they walk to, and from, school.

“We applied to the government’s Youth Opportunity Fund and were successful, so we booked the school hall and paid for an instructor to come in.

“The girls will be aged from 13 upwards and they will be taught what to look for, and how to deal with any problems.”

Two separate incidents took place in Booth Road, in November, involving teenage girls.

The first was on November 11, at 10.15am, when a 14-year-old girl on a footpath between Booth Road and Mount Avenue was approached from behind and inappropriately touched by a man who then ran away.

A second incident happened on the same road later that day when a 15-year-old girl was grabbed from behind.

Julie Edmondson, a spokeswoman from the school, said: “We think it’s a good idea because it will allow children to know what to do if someone grabs them.”

The martial art involves pins, joint locks, and throws, and was developed around the principle of using an attacker’s energy against him.

Colin Heaton, who will be taking the classes, said: “We will be teaching the children to be aware of their surroundings and their situation, so their confidence is increased and not their vulnerabilty.”

The classes will run at the school from 5.30pm to 6.30pm every Wednesday.