YOUNGSTERS in Eden were given some strong words of advice from two ex-England footballers who visited the area to promote sport and warn of the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Former England and Arsenal captain Tony Adams, a self-confessed alcoholic, along with his team-mate Lee Dixon, launched the Kickabout scheme in Penrith, which will now be followed by a ten-week programme of football activity held in Kirkby Stephen, Appleby and other venues across Eden.

Spokesman for Eden District Council Barry Cooper said the launch proved to be a very successful day: "We were extremely grateful for the support given by Sporting Chance and everyone involved was excited to meet international footballers.

"The children were able to hear problems drink and drugs can cause straight from the horse's mouth rather than from someone on television.

"The children showed no inhibitions when asking questions about the impact drink can have on your life and they were given serious answers."

The new initiative developed by Eden District Council will help address health-related problems with the county's youngsters after a survey in 2003 revealed almost half of Cumbrian secondary school pupils, who were quizzed, had drunk alcohol in the last week, and a third claimed to have used illegal drugs.

Mr Adams, who runs the Sporting Chance clinic, and Mr Dixon presented seminars to secondary schools from across Eden, where they relived past experiences of overcoming drug or alcohol addiction or coping with a team-mate who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, before starting the Kickabout Scheme.

Budding female football stars also got a few training tips from Kelly Smith who starred for England in this year's Women's European Championship.

Kickabout now enters a 12-month pilot scheme where, on Friday nights between 6pm and 8pm at sporting events across Eden, teenagers can turn up and take part in football activity. Parents and children can go along and learn football skills and take up the opportunity to get an FA coaching badge.

For more information about Kickabout, and the sporting opportunities, call 01768-212141/212279.