AN MP has called for the return of Dr Who-style police boxes to help combat anti-social behaviour.

Gordon Prentice's call has been backed by fans of the time-travelling hero - but today he was accused of watching too much TV.

The Pendle MP believes the old-fashioned blue boxes will reassure locals fed up with petty crime in small towns where the police stations and normal telephone boxes have been closed.

The Doctor's Tardis time-travelling machine is based on a 1930s police box. Boxes appeared on the streets at the turn of the 19th century, not long after the invention of the telephone.

The public could also use them to contact police rapidly and the blue flashing light on top of the box indicated to the patrolling officer that he needed to contact his station.

They were phased out when police radios took over in the 1970s.

In Barnoldswick, where Mr Prentice lives, councillors have been angered that they had to contact Burnley police station 15 miles away, when a spate of vandalism almost scuppered a prestigious French Market.

Mr Prentice said: "I have long advocated the return of the Dr Who Tardis police box, suitably updated with touch sensitive screens saying who their beat managers and officers are who cover that area.

"It would not be so expensive would it? They could be placed strategically around the area and a police officer would be there. We just have to think laterally."

Mr Prentice said it was important to residents to have dedicated beat officers and the boxes would give them bases to work from.

Darwen Dr Who fan Graham Groom, a member of Blackburn Dr Who Club, added: "It sounds like a good idea to me. I know in Darwen our police station closes down in the evening and there's no police at night time.

"It would be a good novelty thing. With Dr Who being such a success in the ratings people are aware of them now."

But Barnoldswick town councillor and member of Barnoldswick Chamber of Trade, Coun Jenny Purcell said: "It wouldn't help. We are not living in the 1920s. He's been watching too much Dr Who. We need more police on the beat not Dr Who's Tardis."

Coun Purcell said anti-social behaviour had taken away people's quality of life and left people too frightened to go out.

She added that the Chamber of Trade has received more than 800 letters of support in a campaign to get Barnoldswick police station manned 24 hours a day, which would be sent to Mr Prentice.

Ch Supt Jerry Graham said he believed the police were already working hard to make officers accessible.

He added: "We share the local MPs desire to increase the visibility and accessibility of our officers and we are already doing this in a number of different ways."

Dr Who, starring Manchester actor Christopher Ecclestone, returned to the BBC this year after a nine-year absence to become a ratings winner, netting up to 10 million viewers.

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