POLICE in Barnoldswick have launched a search to find six volunteers to help them keep an eye on crime.

The volunteers are needed to help monitor the town's new CCTV system, which will go live later this summer.

The operators would be based at Barnoldswick Police Station and work mainly evenings and weekends - peak times for youth nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

Their job would be to monitor CCTV screens and work with the police to reduce and detect crime.

All applicants will be fully trained and, according to PC Derek Mitchell, warmly welcomed into the police family.

He said: "We already have a number of police volunteers assisting us with a range of duties from office administration to more specialist tasks like assisting us with calling back victims of crime to update them on their cases.

"The scheme is working really well, giving us a chance to show people more about our work and giving members of the public new skills and experience as well as a fantastic opportunity to make a difference to their local community.

"If there is anyone in the Barnoldswick area who wants to make a difference and has a few hours a week to spare to assist us, then we would be delighted to hear from them.

"The more of us keeping an eye on crime the better."

The first CCTV camera was installed at Wellhouse Road car park, Barnoldswick, last month. Eleven more cameras will be fitted in Barnoldswick and seven in Earby in a £300,000 operation to crack down on anti-social behaviour.

More could be in the pipeline if further funding is secured.

The cameras will mainly monitor the two town centres, with one also to be placed in Victory Park, Barnoldswick.

Anyone interested in becoming a Barnoldswick CCTV volunteer should contact PC Mitchell on 01282 472389.

Meanwhile, Lancashire Police launched its "Summer Nights" operation in Colne and West Craven at the weekend.

It will run over the next few months, involving neighbourhood response officers, special constables, plain clothes and mounted police officers homing in on areas renowned for under age drinking.

On Saturday mounted police officers were on patrol in Barnoldswick as part of the campaign.

Test purchases were carried out in 15 off-licences in Colne and West Craven over the weekend and there were 26 incidents of alcohol being seized from under-age drinkers, including areas in Barnoldswick and Earby.

The Summer Nights operation will be closely monitored and reviewed on a week by week basis.