YOUTHS from Hyndburn, Chorley and Pendle will this weekend get together for a campaign to teach youngsters about teenage pregnancy.

They will use their time at a weekend residential to devise theatrical performances to drive important messages home.

The pilot scheme will see the budding writers and actors take their work into schools and youth centres.

Lancashire youth and community service participation co-ordinator, Carol Newmarch, said those taking part were "totally committed to bringing the subjects of teenage pregnancy and sexual health into the public arena."

She added: "It was their idea to create theatre around these issues and take it out to where young people could see and listen. They wanted to get away from standard teaching and information methods and make the messages really stand out."

The scheme originated during a summer theatre workshop in Lancaster where teenagers agreed not enough information was available and decided to tackle the problem head-on.

Ms Newmarch said two professional advisers had worked on the project and that all volunteer performers were put through recognised accreditation certificates.

Chris Wright, of Lancaster-based Up Front Theatre, is helping put the presentation together, which, it is hoped, will be ready to tour in the late spring.

The residential course lasts from today until Sunday.