30064/3Wiltshire Times reporter Morwenna Blake went along to a self-defence session designed to teach teenage girls to take care of themselves

TEENAGE girls in Trowbridge are learning how to defend themselves if they become the victim of an attack.

Members of Spinners Youth Club, based at Court Mills, had their first self-defence lesson from instructors Den Butler and Serena Meakin on Friday.

Mr Butler, from the Melksham-based West Wilts Martial Arts Academy, said: "We are teaching them how to get out of a situation where somebody is trying to restrain them."

The girls, aged 14 or 15, asked their youth leader if they could have the lessons and will be taking part in a six-week course, with one session held every week.

Diane Campbell, assistant youth development worker for Wiltshire County Council, said: "Talking to young girls in the area they wanted to help themselves to feel safe when they are out and about.

"We organise a lot of activities and we ask them what they feel would be useful to them.

"They asked to do this and I am really impressed that they have seen it through. These young people have done a lot of the arranging themselves."

Ms Meakin, herself only 4ft 11ins and weighing just seven and a half stone, hopes the girls will learn they can defend themselves against an attack from someone a lot bigger than themselves.

She and Mr Butler have modified some of the self-defence techniques they teach to be used specifically by a smaller person.

Ms Meakin said: "I am quite a small person and I had trouble with some of the locks so we adjusted them for small females.

"If I was attacked by a 6ft bloke I would feel confident enough that I could get out of it."

The aim of the lessons is not to teach any form of martial arts, but simply for the girls to learn how to get away if someone grabs hold of them.

The course is being funded through TAFF, the Trowbridge Area Festival of Fun, which organises activities for youngsters, particularly during the school holidays.

Steve Nash, the town council's sports and community development officer, said: "It is not just about protecting yourself it is about confidence, knowing you can protect yourself if necessary but also learning to step back from a situation."

It is hoped that, if the course proves successful, other youngsters will want to get involved in future lessons.

Mr Butler said: "The trouble always is that people don't tend to learn self-defence until something happens to them or to someone they know."