RUNAWAYS are to be stopped from a life of drugs, prostitution and crime under a new scheme being set up in Bolton.

The plans comes in the wake of the death of prostitute Carly Bateman, a persistent runaway, who turned to prostitution to feed her drug habit.

Police fill in more than 1,000 missing persons reports every 21 months and say that some teenagers disappear at least 60 or 70 times a year.

Carly Bateman often ran away from home and she eventually went into a life of drugs and prostitution.

She was found dead in an alleyway in Crawford Avenue, The Haulgh, on November 11 last year, aged just 17.

Homeless charity worker Dave Bagley is pioneering a scheme to offer protection for all young people missing from home.

Backed by police and child support agencies, the scheme is being described as an exciting move where children from five to 18 can get advice, counselling and advocacy.

Mr Bagley, who has campaigned for nearly a decade for better treatment of street workers and the homeless, is working closely with Bolton's Principle Child Protection Officer, Lynne Jones, in setting up the project.

Parents will be asked to give their consent for a part-time worker to speak alone with the child to prevent them leaving again.

Mr Bagley said: "We will be able to reach some very vulnerable young people who are falling through a gap. If we can prevent one person from having to die, then I feel we have achieved something."

Chief Insp Alan Greene, of Bolton police, said: "We have more than 150 children running away each year. Of these, many will be running away at least 50 to 70 times that year.

"We have seen nothing like this project in Bolton before. It will target vulnerable people who go missing from home who can go into a life of crime and prostitution.

"We will be working closely with Dave and his team. I am very supportive of this work."

The project will not provide accommodation or a refuge for the child, but instead offer friendship and advice after the child's return.

The scheme will fund five part-time workers who will be vetted by police and will be professionally qualified to talk to children.

They will also go into schools across Bolton to teach primary aged children the dangers of running away from home.

National charity The Children's Fund has agreed to fund the £60,000-a-year project to run part of the scheme helping youngsters aged from five to 13. Bolton's social services has agreed to fund the other half of the project.