YOUNGSTERS on a troubled estate are joining forces with police and other groups to build a new Blackburn youth centre.

Former housing office St Bees Close House, Fishmoor, is being converted to a club for local teenagers by Groundwork Blackburn's Youthworks section. Sergeant Joanne Lightbown, of Blackburn police, said the local force decided to get involved in a bid to reduce teenage nuisance on the estate, and build bridges with youngsters.

Police officers and Blackburn with Darwen Council workers helped to build a coffee bar last week to be painted by the teenagers, and officers are now applying for funding through the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime.

Sgt Lightbown said: "We are applying for £5,000 to buy equipment to turn one room into an internet cafe, where teenagers can develop their computing skills."

The community safety initiative bid will be considered by LANPAC, which is funded by a group of Lancashire businesses. When completed, there will also be an arts and crafts room and separate boys' and girls' areas to be decorated by the youngsters.

Parts of the estate are due to be demolished later this year, and more than 30 fires have been started in the empty houses in four months.

Blackburn fire service station officer Andrew Barnes, who believes local youngsters are to blame for the arson attacks, warned earlier this month that children could be killed if they continued to treat the derelict houses as a playground.

Picture: Front, from the left, joiner Dave Forrest, joinery manager Kevin Corcoran, Coun Ashley Ward, project manager Lisa Corville, Natalie Hughes, Lyndy Allcock and Emma Brown. Back, Community Police Officer Mark Pettitt, PC Gary Dundavan and PC Stuart Roberts in the Youth Works Centre for young people.