IT'S easy to laugh at Pendle MP Gordon Prentice's call for the return of Dr Who-style police boxes to help combat crime.

The wooden Tardis contraptions are from another era - the 1930s - although they first appeared a century ago but they provided a base and helped make police presence highly visible.

Today individual areas have their own beat officers, often identified by posters on local noticeboards, but people don't necessarily know where to find them.

Such boxes would, as Mr Prentice points out, be a focal point for police and people seeking their help. Modern touch screen technology could be used to make contact swift.

Admittedly yobs might see the boxes as a challenge to be vandalised but CCTV cameras should be able to identify and deter any offenders.

And in small centres like Barnoldswick, which is 15 miles from the nearest police station, residents should feel reassured to have such a contact point in their midst.

Most public phone boxes have now disappeared and not everyone, especially the elderly, carries a mobile phone with them at all times.

The idea might have some drawbacks but surely it is worth trying out. Anything which might help in the fight against hooligans who bring fear to our streets is worth serious consideration.