England Football captain Harry Kane has launched a partnership with the Mayor of London to get young people off the streets and onto the football pitch.

The star striker was representing home club Tottenham Hotspur as Sadiq Khan announced funding for free football sessions across the capital.

The Mayor will provide £300,000 over three years to fund the Premier League Kicks programme in London.

There will be free sessions at more than 150 locations across the city, reaching 25,000 young people, it is hoped.

The drive for after-school activities comes after research by City Hall found children aged 10 to 16 are most likely to suffer violence at the end of the school day.

Met police officers will regularly attend training sessions delivered through the new partnership, to help improve their relationship with young Londoners.

The project will also partner with vulnerable students attending Pupil Referral Units, providing mentoring and opportunities through sport.

These are young people outside mainstream education, who may have anger management or mental health issues, special educational needs, or who have experienced bullying.

Premier League Kicks has been running nationally since 2006, with 69 Premier League and English Football League clubs now providing free sessions in their local communities.

Fifteen teams in London take part in the programme, and will be able to bid for the Mayor’s new funding – as well as Tottenham Hotspur, a founding member, they now include Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and West Ham.

Speaking at Duke’s Aldridge Academy near the new Tottenham stadium in Haringey, Mr Kane celebrated what the scheme had achieved so far.

He said: “As a local lad, and someone who has played for Tottenham Hotspur since the age of 16, I am very proud of my club and what it’s achieved through Kicks.

“Having access to play football, or any sport regularly, is important not just to improve your physical health, but your mental health as well.”

Sadiq Khan said he was supporting the Premier League programme to help young people grow and develop.

He said: “I know from personal experience that sport can provide young people with life-changing opportunities, and I want all young Londoners to have the chance to reach their full potential.

“That is why I’m supporting the Premier League Kicks programme, providing young Londoners with free sports coaching, helping to build stronger and safer communities.

“The best time to stop violent crime is before it starts. This means investing in our young people, investing in our communities and investing in our city so that we give the next generation the chance to thrive.”