TROUBLED Darwen communities are set to reap the benefits of an initiative designed to help them shed their "Bronx" style images for good.

Blackburn Partnership is preparing to launch a Darwen Employers' Forum in an attempt to stamp out problems faced by residents in the Earcroft and Sudell areas.

The move follows a catalogue of trouble on estates in the wards including violent youths wreaking havoc in St James' Estate which prompted police to patrol the area on horseback for two days this week.

"We are still in the consultation stage but are confident Darwen Employers' Forum will be up and running in June," said Peter Robinson of Blackburn Partnership "We pin-pointed Sudell and Earcroft to begin with in response to the problems they have been facing and their need for extra resources."

Disabled Phillip Day and pensioner Daniel Kay are just two of the St James' estate residents who claim to have been victims of vicious attacks by young thugs in the past few weeks.

Mr Philip said he suffered cuts to his head after being struck with a crow bar by a youth trespassing in his garden and Mr Kay said he was assaulted with a hosepipe by a 12-year-old boy.

Around 20 local employers will form the basis of the initiative and will regularly get together with community groups, politicians, council representatives, the police and councillors to make positive improvements to life in the area.

Similar schemes in Blackburn's Bank Top and Roman Road areas have already helped to transform the communities.

ICI's Dian Cunningham, the forum's chairman, said: "It's great news for the town and very exciting. We are spending time asking the community what it would like to see and are looking forward to building on the good things already going on in Darwen."

Darwen MP Janet Anderson also has high hopes for the forum: "I really believe this initiative will make a big difference for the communities involved," she said.

"I am looking forward to working with the group to help restore pride and rebuild our local communities."

And the police plan to give the initiative their full backing. Sergeant Alan Holt said: "The employers' forum in Bank Top and Roman Road have undoubtedly benefited the area and we hope the same will apply to Darwen."

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