A PIONEERING "all-singing, all-dancing" programme warning Bolton youngsters of the dangers of drugs was unveiled today.

The £46,000 scheme, operated by Bolton Drug Action Team (DAT), will see professional performers and artists teaching 14-year-olds about dance, music, art and literature.

These pupils will then use their routines - from rap or rock music to paintings and dance performances - to tell primary school children over the age of eight that drugs can wreck lives.

The programme, said to be one of the first of its kind in the country, is to be launched in September and is expected to run until March.

The grand finale of the new initiative will be an exhibition of the youngsters' work in the town centre.

Sandie Nesbitt, Bolton DAT co-ordinator, said: "We are thrilled to have been given the go-ahead for something innovative.

"We know that drug use is increasing in the North West and that the age of drug users is coming down.

"In Bolton we feel that we have a younger drug using population than other areas in the North West."

She said the project is activity-based and aimed to prevent abuse of illegal and prescribed drugs as well as alcohol and tobacco.

Steve Gallagher, Bolton DAT chairman, said: "We have high hopes for the effectiveness of this scheme.

"Drugs awareness messages tend to be accepted when they are delivered by people of their own age.

"The project has the potential to become an annual event at little or no cost, once the groundwork has been done."

Government Drugs Challenge Funding provided £37,000 to kick start the project and Bolton firms Warburtons, D2 and Images contributed a further £9,500.

Dancers or musicians interested in being involved in the Art Work Project were asked to phone Graham Mallinson, of Lostock-based educational publishers D2, on 01942 811078.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.