LANCASHIRE'S first Volunteer Police Cadets will begin their training later this month.

The 28 recruits, all aged 16 to 19, will be welcomed into the police family at their inaugural meeting on March 23 at Baxi Potterton, Wyre Street, Padiham.

The youths, recruited from across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, are the first in Lancashire to be given the opportunity to take part in the Lancashire Police Volunteer Cadet scheme, a 38-week training course. The scheme is being piloted by the force's Pennine Division. Over the coming weeks and months, they will be taught about the police service, the criminal justice system, legislation and the work of all local emergency services.

They will also get the chance to take part in an outdoor pursuit weekend and a crime prevention project and, if they successfully complete the course, they will also achieve a B-TEC accreditation from Burnley College.

Around 120 young people from across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale applied to join the new scheme.

After assessments and interviews, 28 of them have been selected to take part in the exciting pilot.

Of these there are seven males and five females from Burnley, four males and nine females from Pendle and three females from Rossendale.

Welcoming them , Chief Superintendent Jerry Graham, Commander of Pennine Division, said: "This is an exciting new initiative which will give local young people an opportunity they have never ever had before.

"They will get a fascinating insight into the work of their local police service, including a good look behind the scenes.

"They will have the chance to learn and work alongside Pennine's many and varied policing departments.

"From our point of view, it will give us a chance to talk to local youths who are the future of those communities and show them what we do and how hard we work to protect those communities."