VIOLENT teenagers in Widnes are being given Indian head massages and Reiki sessions to calm them down.

The scheme has been unveiled in a bid to help underage drinkers, smokers and unruly yobs un-wind.

The first event took place in February at Grangeway Community Centre, Runcorn, when 15 young people underwent the alternative therapies, which included 'accu stim' and foot spa sessions.

The therapy sessions, now to be a regular fixture in Widnes and Runcorn, have been attacked by victim support groups.

Norman Brennan, from the Victims of Crime Trust, said: 'It would be nice, for a change, to hear about therapeutic massages, and other appropriate treatments and rehabilitation, for those whose lives have been devastated by criminality.'

Positive Futures, a Home Office-funded organisation backing the project, says the exercise is proving popular and left teenagers less likely to engage in violence.

The sessions help youngsters 'reduce consumption, detoxing and cleaning the body of nasty chemicals'. Project worker Colin Hunt said: 'At this stage we have run a few taster sessions, but due to an overwhelming response from the boys, we will be introducing regular structured sessions in the near future.'

Positive Futures focuses on youngsters in traditionally deprived communities and aims to get them off the streets into organised activities.

The scheme is being run by charity Young Addaction and is match funded by Halton's Local Strategic Par tnership.