A POLICE Community Support Officer who turned a crime hotspot around has been given a top award PCSO Nigel Brooke was announced as the Community Support Officer of the Year award in the Jane's Police Review Gala Awards.

The Jane's Police Review Gala Awards, is in its 16th year but it is the first year an award has been held for PCSOs.

He was nominated by his community beat manager Sgt Colin Dassow and Det Insp Andy Hulme following a number of projects in Mill Hill, Ewood and Lower Darwen, which PCSO Brooke covers.

One of PCSO Brooke's biggest achievements was stopping a canal towpath being used by youngsters riding mini motorbikes at speeds of up to 40mph.

In December 2005 he wrote to British Waterways asking for sections of the towpath to be blocked and his efforts have revamped the Leeds and Liverpool canal from Ewood through to Feniscowles.

PCSO Brooke, who joined the force 15 years ago as a traffic warden and was one of the first PCSO's in the area four years ago, was awarded the prize at a ceremony for outstanding service to Lancashire Constabulary in Preston on Wednesday.

He was presented the award by Mill Hill Labour county councillor Malcolm Doherty, who is also the chair of Lancashire Police Authority.

Sgt Colin Dassow said: "Nigel was very pleased with the award.

"He is one of those people who when presented with a problem looks into where started and deals with it."

The Lifetime Achievement Award 2007 was presented to PC Ged Swindells who works on Southern Division, Diversity Team of the Year 2007 was awarded to PC Paula Robertson and Inspector Ian McCann from Lancashire Police headquarters, the Pauline Clare Award for the Community Police Officer of the Year went to PC David Johnson and Student Officer of the Year is PC Dave Benson from Northern Division.

Chief Constable, Steve Finnigan, said: "I would like to congratulate all of those who have received an award and to thank them for their hard work and dedication in providing outstanding service to Lancashire Constabulary and the people we serve.

"The awards help demonstrate just some of the fine work and commitment from officers throughout the Constabulary which has helped us to remain a consistently top performing force over recent years."