A YOUTH project which helped reform an 11-year-old vandal after his £100,000 wrecking spree was today praised by Jack Straw.

The Home Secretary and Blackburn MP said he was so impressed with the Youth Works organisation's bid to cut crime on Blackburn's Roman Road estate that it would become a "blueprint scheme" in his White Paper on youth justice.

Mr Straw heard how the boy had mounted a year-long spate of vandalism on houses in Ermine Close, but had now now developed a pride in his area.

Mr Straw visited Youth Works' Diversion headquarters in Newfield Drive to be briefed on efforts which have helped cut crime by 35 per cent, reduced youth nuisance by 95 per cent and slashed repair bills by up to 60 per cent.

Arts development worker Catherine Wright said good results had been achieved by running workshops for parents and their children.

She added: "It has reduced the level of crime and improved social and physical environment."

Youth Works, funded by Crime Concern, Groundwork and Marks and Spencer, operates in five areas across the country and works with young people aged between eight and 12 who live on deprived housing estates. The Blackburn project, soon to be extended on to Sudall estate, Darwen, used to have the highest youth nuisance figures in the area but has used schemes like designing new play areas and murals to tackle the problem.

Mr Straw said those achievements would now form part of his work to cut youth crime across the country.

He added: "The frustrating thing about criminal justice is that over the years many good things have been done but they are not often shared.

"I will soon be publishing my White Paper on youth justice.

"I think there is a good case for having a box in the youth justice paper for what you are doing here."

Mr Straw will now arrange for team members to brief him fully on the Blackburn organisation.

The Home Secretary also saw a giant mural entitled The Garden Gate, created by youngsters from Youth Works in Fosse Close. He also visited an area of rough ground which will be transformed into a play area.

Groundwork Blackburn executive director Peter Wilmers said he was delighted that Mr Straw had been impressed with the work on Roman Road.

He added: "People can come and see for themselves what an improvement this type of work can make."

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