A crime-busting sports initiative is back for the second year running after it produced "dramatic" results last year.

The five-a-side football league kicked off last summer, after officers from Manningtree's Neighbourhood Policing Team decided to give youngsters something to do to keep them off the streets and on the pitch.

Young people aged between 13 and 16 are now being invited to sign up for teams of seven people to take part in weekly matches this summer.

These take place between July 24 and August 28 at Manningtree sports centre, Colchester Road, Lawford.

Eight teams will be competing.

The scheme is part of a crime reduction initiative meaning that team members have to sign a strict code of conduct to take part.

If anyone in the team is involved in antisocial behaviour during the summer months, they are excluded.

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