A GROUND-breaking pilot scheme is being run to tackle a crime which say causes residents relentless misery.

And if the six-month initiative to tackle juvenile nuisance in the Infirmary area of Blackburn is a success, it will be rolled out across town.

Police community support officer, Nigel Brooke, is to identify the children - aged between 10 and 16 - who are causing trouble and pass their details to the Mill Hill-based Youth Inclusion Programme.

The scheme works with referred youngsters and attempts to divert them from causing trouble by involving them in projects . It is the first time police have utilised the programme in such a focused way to target an area.

PCSO Brooke said the Infirmary area had been picked because it was thought to have the most juvenile nuisance .

Last year, 108 complaints were made to police about the problem, accounting for 15 per cent of all calls from the area.

PCSO Brooke said he had devised the scheme after getting on his bike. He added: "People ring up and complain but because of the pressures of work, often the patrols don't get there.

"If they do, they move them on but we were not finding any long-term solutions. A few months ago I got on the bike and cycled around speaking to the children. I realised it is about engaging these youths. We have to try and find them something to do."

He also spoke about the impact of juvenile nuisance on residents'. "Often minor nuisance offences develop into criminal damage. What may start as children kicking a ball about and may notice there is an empty property," said PCSO Brooke.

"They will get in and rummage around and set fires. What started as fairly minor, ends up as criminal damage and, in some cases, arson.

" iIt is juvenile nuisance, criminal damage and traffic problems that are the biggest problems and it blights people's lives, many of them elderly .

"The children can be very intimidating, especially if they have had alcohol. They are normally smaller groups and the language they use is unbelievable."

Ruth Talbot, from the programme, said: "Staff will visit the area with PCSO Brooke and talk to youngsters allegedly causing a nuisance.

They will be invited to channel their energies away from inappropriate behaviour."