A DERELICT tennis court in Waterfoot's Edgeside Park is being transformed into a wheeled sports and kick-about area to help keep kids off the streets.

The £130,000 project at the Edgeside Lane site is being carried out by environmental charity Groundwork as part of Rossendale's Youth Provision Strategy' a multi-agency initiative that's backed by a partnership representing key organisations dealing with young people.

Police say the sports area now acts as a legitimate gathering place for youngsters in the area that helps improve the sense of security of residents by reducing youth nuisance.

Edgeside Residents' Association chairman Sheila Lynch, who has been campaigning for better youth provision in the area, said: "It all began with a Party in the Park' a few years ago.

"Someone suggested a skateboard ramp and we looked for funding. We realised that we couldn't raise the cash on our own and that's when Groundwork stepped in."

She added: "It's wonderful. We had all sorts of problems on the site before, especially during the summer, but you can see from the way that local young people are already starting to use the space that it was just what they needed."

The work has been funded by Sport England through its Active England Fund, the Barclays Spaces for Sport programme, The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Living Spaces scheme, Lancashire County Council's Small Sites and Capital Works Funds and United Utilities.

Philip Shirfield, senior economic and social inclusion manager for Sport England North West, said: "Sport England firmly believes that sport and physical activity can reduce both crime and the fear of crime by getting young people off the streets and channelling their minds and energies into sport."

The residents' association is also looking to provide further activity's for teenagers. A weekly drop in' is already being offered at flat in Fairfield Avenue and other facilities are being looked into.

Groundwork executive director Peter Jordan added: "We're delighted to help people take positive action. This partnership effort will eventually benefit the whole of Rossendale."