A PROJECT to keep teenagers off the streets has been launched.

The first meeting of a Youth CAF (community and friendship) group was held at Dorset Road Community Centre on the Hag Fold estate, Atherton, on January 9.

A DJ gave children, aged 11 to 16, a course in “mixing” on a turntable in a bid to give bored youngsters something to do. The project is the brainchild of resident Brian Seddon and PCSO Maria Hulme, who have secured funding from Wigan and Leigh Housing and the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Mr Seddon said: “When I was young there was a cafe on Market Street that we all used to go to and they had a jukebox.

“It gave us something to do so we wanted to recreate something like that.

“There is not much for young people to do and we have had problems with anti-social behaviour.

“They can bring an iPod and play their own music and we also have a turntable so they can have a go at mixing.

“We want to get a football table and pool table too. It is somewhere they can go every Thursday night.

“We will have an official launch once we have got it established. The first one was a success although we would like more people.”

The community centre will be open from 6pm until 9pm.