YOUNG people in Horwich and Blackrod will benefit from a £255,000 cash boost.

The grant will pay for a new youth drop-in centre for nine to 13-year-olds on the lower school site of Rivington and Blackrod High School in Albert Street, Horwich.

Money will also be pumped into refurbishing Fox Street Youth Club in Horwich, which caters for youngsters aged 14 and above.

The youth provision will provide both on-site and outreach youth work in the area and will be open in the evening, six nights a week. Rivington and Blackrod High School has secured the grant from the New Opportunities Fund to provide community youth provision in the area.

Headteacher John Baumber said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for both the community and young people in Horwich and Blackrod to access an exciting array of opportunities and activities in the evenings and to have a say in what they want to do.

"We hope that by providing this chance for young people we will help them to make positive choices in their lives."

The activities at both sites will be planned in consultation with young people to ensure that they are in line with what they want, with focus groups of young people being involved in the scheme.

Three members of staff will be recruited, including a manager, who will run the project.

The sites also have the potential to be used by the community during the day for activities such as adult learning. Mr Baumber and the school's governors will oversee the management of the project.

A number of local agencies, including the youth service, Connexions, Greater Manchester Police and local residents' associations, have been working with the school to give their support to the scheme.