A MAYOR has called for urgent action after spending hours on the beat with local police.

Clitheroe mayor Kevin Horkin said a recent 10-hour walkabout on the beat with officers was ‘an eye-opener’.

Coun Horkin said the high number of boozy revellers and a lack of police resources needs to be tackled urgently.

He said: “Clearly the vast majority of people who cause problems here are from surrounding towns and not from Clitheroe. This causes big problems for local police who are already struggling to make the best use of the resources they have.

“Going out on patrol proved to be quite an eye-opener for me and I suggest other local councillors do the same.”

During his time on the beat he spoke to police officers, pub licensees and taxi drivers.

This week Coun Horkin takes over as chairman of the Ribble Valley Community Safety Partnership, a group which looks at specific local problems and initiatives.

He said his time spent on the beat, which he hopes to repeat every six months, was invaluable.

“I took up an open invitation to spend some time with the police for whom I have nothing but the highest respect.

“I found them very open and professional despite the fact that there is limited manpower and an obvious need for more resources.”