A TEENAGE cafe has been given more than £2,800 to help keep anti-social behaviour down in Northwich.

The Redeeming Our Communities (ROC) café is held at the Old Fire Station, in Chesterway, on Friday nights.

It was set up after PCSOs Nicola Smith and Barbara Billington spoke to young people to see what could be done to keep them out of trouble in the light of anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

To help the ROC Café build on its success it has been given £2,873 from the police and crime commissioner's Crime Prevention Fund.

John Dwyer, police and crime commissioner, said: "I created my Crime Prevention Fund to help projects like this one make a difference.

"It’s great to hear from officers about the positive effects projects like this have.

"Anti-social behaviour should not be tolerated.

"Wherever possible it’s important that services can be provided to help nip it in the bud before it gets out of control."

PCSO Nicola Smith said: "The ROC Café has provided young people in the area with somewhere safe to go, where they can hang out and stay out of trouble.

"Since the youth club launched, the local policing team in Northwich have noticed a dramatic drop in the number calls we’ve been receiving regarding anti-social behaviour, especially around McDonalds.

"I’m glad that we’ve managed to divert the young people’s attention away from anti-social behaviour, and have enabled them to get their teeth into something they enjoy."

For more information about the ROC Café visit roc.uk.com/project/roccafe/