Almost £200,000 of Government cash has been dedicated to tackling problem families in Lincolnshire.

The cash will be used to employ a team of seven who will work to slash rates of antisocial behaviour, domestic violence alcohol and drug abuse and teenage pregnancy.

And Lincoln, West Lindsey and Boston have been targeted as areas where help is needed.

This was confirmed by children and families minister Dawn Primarolo when announcing a further 88 new Family Intervention Projects across the country.

The Government states that research published in November proves that FIPs have a lasting impact on the families that have worked with since the scheme was launched in 2007.

Ms Primarolo said: "Family Intervention Projects challenge, confront and support parents and children to help them change their behaviour for the benefit of the whole family and wider community.

"Prevention is the best way to stop problems with families escalating and impacting their neighbours."

The money awarded by the Department of Children, Schools and Families and Lincolnshire County Council is supplemented by cash already made available by West Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership and, together, will pay for five key workers plus a manager and administration assistant.

Chairman of the West Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership, Cllr Geoff Wiseman, said: "We will change behaviour to enable 'chaotic' families to live independently in communities and improve the quality of life for those families. "We also aim to improve the quality of life for families in the wider community who are 'victims' or witnesses to the behaviour of the chaotic families.

" It is fantastic news that our bid has been approved and we will be advertising for staff very soon and hope to have the team in place by the end of March and be making a real difference to the lives of the families and the communities concerned very soon after that."