TWO Fylde Coast secondary schools are among the first in the country benefiting from a pioneering crime prevention initiative.

Highfield High School and Lytham St Annes High school have ordered copies of the Prison? It's Your Decision CD-Rom launched by national charity No Way Trust and supported by the Lloyds TSB Foundation and other funding parties.

Schools in the North West can get hold of their copy first, with the scheme being launched nationwide later this year.

Prison? It's Your Decision aims to deter young people from a life of crime by using virtual reality technology to give pupils aged 12 and above first-hand experience of prison life in HM Prison Hull and HM Styal Prison, Cheshire.

The hard-hitting insight into prison life, which includes a virtual-reality tour of cells, communal areas and solitary confinement, highlights examples of people whose lives have been shattered by crimes ranging from substance misuse, car crime and theft.

In addition the CD-Rom includes an interview with the Blackpool-based Blewitt family.

Catherine Blewitt was jailed for 15 months two years ago after she killed her best friend in a drink driving accident and the interview details the impact of the tragedy on her family and friends.

Headmaster of Highfield High Derek Digman said: "This is an innovative approach to crime prevention.

"Obviously you can't remove temptations around youngsters today. But what we can do is encourage them to make sensible decisions when temptations arise and I am sure this programme will help."

Schools can order their copy by writing on school headed paper, enclosing a cheque or postal order for £1, to No Way Trust, Free CD-Rom, HM Prison, Hedon Road, Hull, HU9 5LS.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.