A NEW scheme hopes to show antisocial behaviour the red card.

A new football project kicked off this week, with help from North Wales Police in partnership with Bala Town Football Club.

The project, funded by Crimebeat, will run for 10 weeks and welcomes local children ages between 12 and 16 of all abilities.

The purpose of the sessions is to build and strengthen the trust between the police and youngsters in the community.

This will, in turn, make intelligence gathering easier without causing grief or putting a stop to young people having fun.

Each session will be held on Monday nights, between 6pm and 7pm, at the Maes Tegid 3G football ground.

If attendees participate for five consecutive weeks, then the Safer Neighbourhood Team will supply fish and chips.

If attendees participate for the full ten weeks then Bala FC will supply a football, tickets to watch them play and a chance to win a signed Europa League jersey.

Twenty-two youngsters attended on Monday evening and Bala FC was delighted with the turnout.

Community support officer Lona Davenport said: “I’m very happy with how enthusiastic everyone is.

"It is a prime example of how youngsters, when given a choice, will happily avoid antisocial behaviour.”

Safer Neighbourhood Teams are happy to support all sorts of community events to optimise engagement, to contact your local community support officer, go to the ‘Your Neighbourhood’ webpage: www.­north-wales.police.uk/your-neighbourhood