A special programme highlighting the danger of 'County Lines' drug gangs exploiting young people has been touring Blackburn with Darwen schools.

It aims to raise awareness of the criminal bosses seeking to recruit vulnerable teenagers into the deadly trade.

Run by The Message Trust it uses music and teaching from experienced school bands, animations, videos and talks from the local police to engage pupils.

The national tour of ‘No More County Lines. Ridding the Streets of Exploitation’ is aimed at 11 to 18-year-olds and has visited secondary schools in the borough with lessons on effective ways to combat crime and feel safe.

County lines is defined as ‘gang activity, highly associated with violence, drug dealing and exploitation; that is having a devastating impact on young people, vulnerable adults and local communities’.

Blackburn with Darwen schools taking part in the tour include:

  • St Wilfrid’s Church of England Academy,
  • Pleckgate High School,
  • St Bede’s Roman Catholic High School,
  • Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School (TIBHS),
  • Eden School,
  • Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio,
  • Witton Park Academy,
  • Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School (QEGS),
  • Darwen Aldridge Community Academy,
  • Our Lady and St John Roman Catholic High School.

Funded by the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education and Lancashire Partnership Against Crime the tour is similar to The Message Trust's 'No More Knives' programme.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's education boss Cllr Julie Gunn, who attended the session at Pleckgate High School, said: "The tour is a great way of teaching our young people the dangers of exploitation and gang culture.

"It’s presented in such an engaging way and the video stories of people who have been exposed to drugs and violence and found a way out are inspiring.

"This is the message we want our young people to be aware of.

"We want to equip and empower them to initially make good choices but even if they do find themselves stuck, then please know that there is hope and always a way out, as long as they can talk to someone."