Anti-knife crime gigs announced

The bands have given their services for free

An anti-knife initiative has been established that will see up to 90 music concerts arranged around the UK and Ireland.

The Knife Crime Awareness Tour 2008/09 aims to deliver its message through a series of concerts over the next year.

A warm-up gig has been arranged to take place at the Windsor in Neath, South Wales, on 1 November with the official launch in Cardiff Bay a month later.

The tour has the backing of the 250 bands and the Damilola Taylor Trust.

Every musical genre

The project's co founder, Aled Lewis, 38, said: "I think music is the main way of getting the message across.

"We are covering every musical genre you can think of and we are planning to take some performances to schools as well."

He added: "Our idea is to bring awareness about knife crime.

"The Damilola Taylor trust is involved and we are going into communities that have got knife crime and putting the proceeds of the concerts into community-based projects."

Concern over the rise in knife and gun crime saw traffic brought to a standstill in London on Saturday when more than 2,000 people marched in protest at the use of knives by young people.