YOUNGSTERS face being given a red card for misbehaving in the Trafford Centre - and 'sent off' from the shopping city.

Lesser offences will be deemed worthy of a warning yellow card, as part of a football style disciplinary system.

Teenagers who visit the centre and youth workers will agree the proposed code of conduct, as part of a ground breaking initiative.

Youth workers from Trafford Youth Service and a youth project team from Safety Awareness Ltd will be working in the shopping and leisure centre this summer, to encourage teenagers to make the most of the holiday period.

It is the first time a shopping centre in the UK has joined forces with organisations like Trafford Youth Service and the Manchester based Safety Awareness Ltd to launch this type of scheme. The project aims to provide relevant, accessible information and advice to teenagers, in a bid to meet their needs and encourage responsible behaviour.

The youth project team will patrol the malls from 5pm until 10pm Thursday to Sunday, identifying young people who would benefit from the Trafford Youth Service mobile unit. The unit will be stationed on The Place (in front of the Orient) every Thursday until September.

A crucial element of the scheme is the consultation process that will be entered into with young people. Organisers aim to agree a code of conduct that is acceptable to both youngsters and Trafford Centre bosses, which will be based on the red and yellow card system used on a football pitch. Through negotiation, a set of rules will be laid out on what constitutes a yellow card warning or a red card, meaning exclusion from the centre.

The mobile unit will provide advice and information on a range of issues affecting young people, from sex and relationship education to drug abuse.

Youngsters will also be able to get career guidance and information on activities, such as rock climbing, canoeing, dance courses or DJ-ing workshops.

Director of operations for the Trafford Centre Steve Bunce said: "Particularly during the summer holidays the number of youngsters coming into the centre on a regular basis almost trebles.

"We feel by working with the youth project team and youth services it's a positive and proactive way of dealing with teenagers in the centre. We're the first shopping centre in the UK to trial such a scheme and we will be assessing its effectiveness with interest."