FARNWORTH is to receive a £300,000 cash windfall to tackle youth Crime.

It is part of a package of measures announced by the Government today to target some of the country's most deprived and trouble-hit housing estates.

The Youth Justice Board said each neighbourhood would receive a £300,000 investment to help establish various social programmes for young people aged between 13 and 16.

Initiatives will include after-school clubs, sports and arts training as well as special education classes and addiction support.

Half of the money will come in the form of a grant from the Youth Justice Board and half from local funds such as single regeneration budgets, monies from the New Deal and other local funding streams.

In addition to these Youth Inclusion Programmes, more than one hundred Summer Splash schemes are being launched this week.

These will last for five weeks over the summer holidays and will encourage young people to become more involved in their community and to engage in sport and constructive recreation.

The Youth Justice Board said research showed that engaging young people in activities in after school and during the holidays could significantly reduce crimes such as burglary, car-related offences, shoplifting and criminal damage.

Louise Bennett, senior policy adviser at the Youth Justice Board, said: "We are aware that young people will drift into trouble if they have little else constructive to do.

"Our aim at the Board is to prevent youth offending and that means working with young people before they come become embroiled in a life of crime.

"These things are being established on some of the most highly deprived estates across England and Wales."

The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales was established under the Crime and Disorder Act, 1998, to lead reforms to the youth justice system.