THE war grave of a Darwen soldier killed near the end of the First World War has been adopted by a youth offenders team.

Blackburn with Darwen’s Youth Justice Service has selected the grave of Lance Bombardier H A Haworth, to be maintained and looked after by young people who the service is helping to rehabilitate.

The young people involved in the project at Darwen Cemetery have gained knowledge about the young soldier whilst helping to maintain his grave and keep the surrounding area tidy.

Lance Bombardier Haworth, who died on October 27, 1918, has no traceable descendants and the grave adoption allows young people to maintain the grave to a high standard.

Coun Frank Connor, executive member for children’s services, said: “It is a testament to the hard work that is done by Blackburn with Darwen’s Youth Justice Service that these young people have helped to look after this grave, maintaining it to the high standard it deserves, while learning about such an important point in our history as we approach the centenary of the First World War.”