CHILDREN are being kept virtually entertained at Wharton Cyber Cafe this summer.

Youngsters have been surfing the Internet onnew computers at the facility, based at the Willow Wood Community Centre.

The machines were funded with the help of a £2,000 grant from the Community Safety Partnership, operated by Cheshire Police Authority.

The cybercafe project was set up to provide Wharton youngsters with something to do. Organisers hope they will be able to reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour which have plagued the estate by helping youngsters to understand the implications of their actions.

They also hope the project will help stave off boredom in youths during the summer holidays.

A spokeswoman for the cybercafe said: 'We are very grateful for this award, which has been used to purchase IT equipment, educational games and assist with staffing costs. '

The Community Safety Partnership fund was set up in 1999 to help foot the bill for youth projects and schemes to improve safety and reduce crime.

A spokeswoman for the police authority said: 'The fund has become extremely popular, granting over £167,000 to 29 different community-based projects in Cheshire.

'We are pleased to be able to make these awards to deserving projects like the cyber-cafe, involving the young people of Vale Royal.'

Youth Generation Winsford was another group to benefit from the Community Safety

Partnership. It received a grant of nearly £1,500 which will be used to provide young music bands with a platform to play live.