Young people are making a gritty drama out of reality this summer in an innovative Bradford police scheme.

Odsal police's Alhambra 98 project sees students acting out problems such as sexual abuse, drugs and bullying.

Past participants of the scheme - which is hoped will strengthen links between the police and young people - have gone on to gain places at Leeds' prestigious Intake High School.

Alhambra 98 is part of Odsal division's Focus scheme which offers youngsters a range of activities over the summer in an effort to divert them away from crime.

The group of starry-eyed youngsters will be working over the summer on a hard-hitting stage workshop which have touched on their lives and experiences.

In the autumn they will perform the workshop at the Alhambra Studio to up to 1,000 pupils from ten schools in the Bradford district.

Community Services Officer for Odsal police PC David Crane said: "The project aims to educate young people, develop their skills and influence their behaviour.

"The youngsters who took part in previous years were able to work at developing solutions to issues which affected them personally. Some have gone on to pursue a career in drama, but all have benefited greatly from taking part."

Another group of pupils will be working with Bradford University students to produce a video addressing the problem of disorders on buses.

PC Crane said: "The video group will be looking at bus disorder and there might be a link with that and the stage production."

He said First Bus had become involved due to the problems experienced with a minority of young people in the district behaving badly on buses and vandalising company property.

Last year's group produced teaching notes and a video which are being used in schools throughout the district to help address issues such as physical and mental abuse, taking responsibility within the family and the effect of single parent families.

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