BLACKBURN'S controversial Brook Advisory Centre is planning to launch a new assault on the area in a bid to make youngsters fully aware of the repurcussions of an active sex life.

Following the group's annual general meeting last week, staff from Brook - who provide confidential guidance and contraception for youngsters - have been prompted into action after listening to two speakers from other Brook centres.

The two speakers, Director of Manchester Brook, Lisa Knott, and Merseyside Outreach project manager, Abby Attwood, told the meeting about the way in which their schemes had been promoted and expanded.

Now their controversial ideas could be adopted by the Blackburn branch of Brook as they vie to boost local awarness of the Darwen Street centre.

Spokesman for Blackburn Brook, Sheila Shaw, said: "The ideas they put forward are well worth considering.

"One of our members, who is in marketing, said a lot of the ideas were transferrable to Blackburn, providing of course we get the financial backing."

Ideas under consideration include:

ZBombarding town centre shoppers with leaflets about safe sex and contraceptives - handed out by staff wearing condom T-shirts;

ZHanding out literature and contraceptives at night clubs;

ZLaunching a mobile service to cover areas outside Blackburn, including Darwen and Accrington, similar to the controversial Cornwall 'Love Bus,' which currently offer free advice and contraceptives.

ZLaunch a campaign such as Manchester's "Summer of Love" campaign which highlighted the dangers of Sexually Transimitted Diseases (STDs) and unwanted pregnencies and was backed by condom giants Mates.

Earlier this year, the Citizen revealed that more than half of the people visiting the centre were under 16 years of age, with 40 per cent of youngsters seen already using the pill.

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