Children as young as 14 will help stamp out the spread of drug-related crime in Bradford's inner city.

Starting today a team of young people will go out in to the community to spread the anti-drug message as part of the Manningham Peer Education Project.

The project is a training course which focuses on young people aged between 14 and 19 educating each other about the dangers of drug abuse rather than adults preaching the same message and being ignored. Backed by the police and community leaders, the £150,000 scheme has been organised by the Park House Project which is part of Bradford Council's youth service.

The project started from concern about the rise in drug abuse and related crime in the area.

Anwar Qadir, of the Park House Project, said the aim of the project was to steer youngsters away from drugs.

Teenager Jameel Bashir said he wanted to alert his peers to the perils of taking drugs.

"We will be explaining to other teenagers the effects of drugs and why they should not be taken. Hopefully we will get the message across," said the 14-year-old.

Bradford West Labour MP Marsha Singh was delighted to be invited to attend the launch.

He said it was a novel idea and wished the scheme every success.

"This is positive action by young people and it must be commended.

"As you know, Bradford has an on-going problem with drugs and it must be tackled in any way it can.

"Here we have young children sending a message to their peers that you may have a few moments of pleasure taking a certain drug, but it could cause a lifetime of misery."

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