WORKSHOPS to help vulnerable teenagers who have learning disabilities have been hailed a success.

Children from Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale have attended a two day work shop to help them overcome emotional and psychological health problems.

The teens, who all attend special schools around the area, came to Brunshaw Youth Centre on Monday and yesterday (Thursday) to take part in a series of activities run by The Primary Care Trust's (PCT) paediatric service.

The event, which was funded by the PCT, was attended by 25 youths aged from 12 to 18 who were joined by psychologists, police and the fire brigade.

The workshops are in their fifth year of running and this year's aim was to help the children combat emotional problems and increase personal safety through role plays and games.

Tom Harrision, manager for the PCT paediatric service, said:"The kids have been chosen to attend the summer workshops because they suffer from various learning difficulties such as autism and attention deficit disorder.

"They can be quite challenging so the workshops were made to be light-hearted and informative to keep their attention and maximise their learning.

"Many of them have real problems concentrating whilst in school but they have really enjoyed the two days and have concentrated really well and been well behaved.

"The kids have taken part in everything from role plays to meditation and learning relaxation techniques and I have heard from their parents that they have come home telling them everything they have learnt, which shows that the workshops have worked.

"The workshops have given their parents a chance to have a well deserved break during the long summer holidays and given the children the chance to meet new people and learn new skills.

"I think the highlight for most of them was getting to meet the firemen and ask them questions about their job. They haven't stopped talking about them all day."