A NEW £50,000 safety scheme is set to be launched in Hyndburn - aimed at improving street lighting in the borough.

The cash, secured by the borough's community safety partnership, will pay for new lights in Rishton and Great Harwood as part of a scheme to reduce fear of crime and to prevent crime.

Sergeant Ian Corbett, from Great Harwood police, said: "Funding like this is always beneficial and improved street lighting can make a difference.

"If there is a secluded area that can be lit up then it is less attractive to people who want to commit crimes.

"Street lighting can be an effective crime prevention tool."

The streets to be targeted are in the Spring Hill area of Rishton and residential streets in the town centre of Great Harwood.

Mick Frankland, chairman of the community safety partnership, said: "This a major boost for the communities of Hyndburn.

"Good quality street lighting is an excellent way of improving personal well-being and feelings of safety when out and about, as well as deterring would-be criminals.

"We want to be able to live and travel around the borough without having to experience or witness any sort of crime or anti-social behaviour that may inevitably make us feel less safe.

"The community safety partnership is concentrating on reducing criminal damage, violent crime and anti-social behaviour, so good quality street lighting is one of the crime reduction tools that we are using to help us and our communities to achieve this aim."

The safety partnership is made up of Hyndburn Borough Council, Lancashire County Council and Lancashire Constabulary as well the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Primary Care Trust.

It is hoped that the work will begin before the end of the year.