TAKEAWAY workers are being armed with DNA sample kits to catch thugs who attack them.

Police are handing out spit kit' to fast food shops in Padiham after several workers were spat at by customers.

It is the first time the kits have been handed out to takeaways in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale and the scheme is believed to be the first of its type in Lancashire.

Padiham sergeant Phil Hutchinson said: "Over the past 12 months we've dealt with eight or nine incidents at local takeaways, four of which have involved spitting.

"This isn't a huge amount of offences but the nature of the offence is very distasteful.

"Being spat at is very unpleasant for takeaway staff and extremely unhygienic given the environment that both staff and offenders are in.

"It is something we are very keen to call a halt to and this initiative is just one of the ways in which we hope to do that."

About 600 kits, funded through £500 cash seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act, have been handed out.

The packs contain a pair of gloves, an evidence bag and sterile swab workers can use to collect people's DNA if they are spat at and abused.

The move comes after Lancashire County Council last year handed out 4,000 DNA kits to drivers in case they were spat at.

A 17-year-old boy from Brierfield was the first person in the county to be convicted of common assault after he spat in bus driver Sean Sutton's face.

The youth assaulted Mr Sutton when the gang he was in was asked to leave the X43 service in Manchester Road, Burnley, last September.

In 2006 parking attendants in Rossendale were also given the packs in a bid to stop attacks on traffic wardens.

Sgt Hutchinson said officers had visited takeaways in Padiham and many backed the scheme.

He added: "Our message to offenders is this - you can spit and run but you can no longer hide.

"The odds of you getting away with this type of offence are now very low indeed. "

Julie Duckworth, owner of Pendle Street Chippie fish and chip shop, Pendle Street, Padiham, welcomed the scheme.

She said: "I am lucky in the eight years I have had the shop nothing like that has happened to me.

"I think it is a very good scheme but I would imagine it is more the kebab shops which could have trouble at the weekend when people have had a drink. "