Mothers and fathers of young criminals are being sent to parenting skills classes to stop their sons and daughters reoffending.

The classes, which begin next week, are among several initiatives set up by Brighton and Hove's Youth Offending Team.

Initially, seven parents will attend the classes, which include counselling and support, and more will be signed up later.

They will include the parents of the young people caught up in violent disturbances in Whitehawk last year.

Colin Tucker, head of the Youth Offending Team, said many of the most persistent offenders came from homes where there was a lack of parental support and guidance.

He said: "We will bring together parents of children who break the law and encourage them to find better ways of dealing with their children.

"The parents will be shown how to manage their children's behaviour and taught to set boundaries, establish better control and understand their children and the stages they are going through.

"I have children of my own and although they are not in trouble, it can be very difficult bringing them up.

"We will not be blaming the parents, we will be giving them help and support."

The team hopes parents will attend classes voluntarily but the courts can issue a parenting order if they refuse, making their attendance compulsory.

The project follows the publication of the Youth Offending Team's first youth justice plan since it was set up two years ago.

It showed 210 children in Brighton and Hove were caught committing crimes last year.

Twenty of these children were persistent offenders who had been caught for committing three or more crimes.

The Youth Offending Team will also build on a programme bringing young criminals face to face with their victims.

To date, six children have met the victims of their crimes. One, a boy who assaulted a police officer, apologised and was taken on a tour of the police station.