YOUNG graffiti artists are set to brighten up Bolton train station, as part of a project to keep them on the straight and narrow.

British Transport Police is joining forces with the award-winning youth charity Reclaim in a bid to curb vandalism and keep youths away from trespassing on the rail network.

The project will see 25 youngsters from Reclaim’s East Bolton group taking part in an art event at Urbis in Manchester on Saturday, January 23.

They will be joined by Reclaim artist Phil Towers and a BTP forensic artist to create graffiti which will then go on display at the station the following day.

Sgt Duncan Berry, of BTP’s neighbourhood police team in Bolton, said: “We want to channel young people’s talents in a positive way and hopefully help to negate criminal behaviour like trespass and vandalism, which in the worst scenario can lead to loss of life.”

Sgt Berry said young people who get bored and decide to trespass on the rail network to daub graffiti on trains and on stations are taking their lives in their own hands.

Just over 18 months ago 19-year-old Daniel Elgar and 21-year-old Bradley Chapman were both killed when they were hit by a train at Barking station in London after going on to the tracks in order to spray graffiti.

Sgt Berry added: “That’s an example of what could go wrong. Hopefully this project will help educate young people about the dangers.”

The teenage boys involved in the scheme have already produced their own manifesto calling for a change in their neighbourhoods.

In the document, the boys hit out at drug dealers and racism — and also plead with the Bolton community to give young people a chance.

The group delivered 3,000 copies of the manifestos to residents in East Bolton in November last year.

The Reclaim team, which turns around the lives of troubled teenagers, has already helped more than 100 young people in Manchester.

The East Bolton group is made up of boys, aged 13 and 14, from five schools in the borough: St Catherine’s CE Academy, Breightmet; Harper Green, Farnworth; Canon Slade, Bradshaw; Smithills School, Smithills; and Sharples School, Sharples.

Reclaim hopes the graffiti artworks will be unveiled at Bolton Train Station on January 24 by the Mayor of Bolton Cllr Norman Critchley.