The director of a major charity in India paid a visit to Blackpool to learn how the resort deals with vulnerable young people, after a chance meeting on a beach in Goa.

Dr Nishtha Desai, who is the director of Children's Rights in Goa, India, made a flying visit to the town after talking to Chief Inspector Neil Chessell on the beach, while he was on holiday.

Dr Desai was in the country as part of an exchange visit organised by Essex University, but managed to fit the trip north into her schedule.

She said: "The reason I came to Blackpool is because we have a serious problem with crimes against children in Goa, and I feel that in Blackpool you have gone a long way towards tackling this type of crime with some very active programmes identifying early on children that are at risk.

"There are definitely many things about your programmes that I will take back with me to my country.

"I see many similarities between Blackpool and my state as we also have a large transient population and a lot of tourists and migrant workers coming to find employment as well as a problem with alcohol abuse."

Dr Desai spent the morning with Andy Shackleton, the children's services representative from Blackpool Social Services on the Awaken Project, before meeting with Detective Sergeant Lee Wilson, who looks at domestic abuse issues.

She also had lunch with Divisional Commander Russ Weaver and Ch Insp Neil Chessell.

Ch Insp Chessell said: "It was a great opportunity for us to exchange ideas with Nishtha about how we ensure vulnerable young people are safe and protected within our communities.

"I'm sure we also learnt a great deal during Nishtha's visit to Blackpool."