AN "excellent" project aimed at preventing sexual exploitation will be backed by police funding for a third-year running.

Youth charity Brathay Trust's child sexual exploitation programme Be SAVY encourages youngsters to "Be safe and value yourself".

The programme has been running since October 2015 will continue to be funded by the police and crime commissioner Peter McCall and the Francis C Scott Charitable Trust.

Mr McCall said: "I am pleased that we are able to provide the funding for a third year for this excellent project to help keep our youngsters safe.

"I have made a commitment to support young people in our communities and I know that working together with out partners and agencies, like the Brathay Trust, can really make a difference to the lives and prospects of young Cumbrians.

"The positive difference they're making so far is really encouraging and I look forward to hearing how the programme develops over this next year.

"We are keen to prevent young people being drawn into crime, and this course will develop skills in our young people which will, I hope, improve their future lives."

The positive impact of the project has already been demonstrated to the project's manager.

Jacqueline Wallace, Brathay's Cumbria projects manager, said: "One of our youngsters had a difficult relationship with her mum and went missing at nights.

"She was known to the police and was drinking and taking legal highs at weekends.

"She was getting into fights and trouble at school and once stayed over at the house of an older man she didn't know.

"We were able to support her to see herself differently and to make choices which showed how much she valued herself."

The group now hopes to deliver more Be SAVY sessions to youngsters, with the first targeted intervention programme planned to start in Millom in the coming months.

The programme will also use the funding to expand into north Lancashire.