YOUNGSTERS in a vandal-plagued area of Darwen will be encouraged to play bowls in a bid to break down the barriers between young and old.

Teenagers regularly hang around the Olive Lane Bowling Green in the evenings and have caused damage to the green by playing cricket on it.

Now, in a bid to prevent further vandalism and to bring youngsters into contact with those who use the green, local police and Youth Works have set up the new scheme.

Meanwhile, an appeal has gone out for spare crown green bowls for the youngsters.

The idea came from Tracey Scott, project manager at Youth Works, a scheme funded by Groundwork and the council to tackle anti-social behaviour by giving youths somewhere to go in the evenings.

PC Dave Cozens (pictured), of Darwen Police, said: "We had a meeting at Olive Lane Bowling Green because we have had so many problems with juveniles causing trouble in that area.

"The bowlers said the children were getting onto the green and making it a mess.

"Tracey explained that a lot of kids don't know what the bowlers do, so the idea was formed that young people should go down and meet them and learn how to bowl. Some of the bowlers agreed to give up time to teach them.

"But we need to get hold of some bowls because they can cost between £60 and £80. We are hoping someone will have a set they no longer use."

PC Cozens said that in a recent incident, youths had stuck cricket stumps into the green and damaged it.

He said: "We hope this will give young people something to do after school and break down the generation gap.

"Once we have the bowls we can see if local youngsters are interested in joining us."

Anyone who can help should drop the bowls off at Darwen Police Station for the attention of PC Cozens.