POLICE are teaming up with York City Football Club in a bid to tackle crime - on the football pitch.

Officers in Clifton, York, are planning a five week football initiative for young people aged 16 to 25.

The neighbourhood policing officers for the area hope the weekly football sessions - which will culminate in a big match between local youngsters and the police - will help them to build bridges with the community.

They also hope it will cut crime by keeping youths off the streets and giving them something to do.

Some of the young participants will have the chance to take part in a week of coaching sessions with York City.

PC Carrine Green, who is organising the scheme, said: "We've had a bit of a problem with young people in the Crombie Avenue area. A lot of them are unemployed and don't have a lot to do.

"That can result in them turning to crime, so we want to give them something positive to do."

The location of the football sessions is yet to be decided, but they will take place every Wednesday, from 6pm to 7pm, for five weeks.

The first one will be on June 20.

Local police officers will take part in training sessions alongside the youngsters, before playing against them on the final week.

There will be a barbecue and prizes on offer to celebrate the big match.

PC Green said: "It's a way of trying to break down barriers between the community and local police officers.

"We want to get to know them a bit better during the course of the five weeks and make it a long-term thing, so that it's not just us arresting them all the time."

It follows on from the success of a one-off football match between police officers and local youths in the Westfield ward in December last year.

The 11-a-side match took place at Oaklands Sports School and was hailed a huge success, with the police team eventually winning 3-1.

York City's communications and community director, Sophie McGill said: "York City Football Club is very pleased to be involved in this positive initiative to create a better relationship between the police and young people in the Clifton area.

"Our York City in the Community' department will be providing free football coaching sessions to the police and the young people involved in this initiative and will be overseeing and refereeing the match between the two groups. I think this scheme demonstrates what a positive force football can be and how the game can help to bring people closer together."