CRIMINALS who travel to Pendle to commit crimes could be shut out thanks to a new state-of-the-art surveillance system.

That's the hope for long-awaited CCTV cameras in Barnoldswick and Earby which will be installed to crack down on anti-social behaviour and boozing.

West Craven councillors have put together a package totalling nearly £300,000 in response to fears of vandals, louts and burglars.

Barnoldswick in particular has been highlighted as a hot spot area for juvenile nuisance. There is also evidence the town is being targeted by travelling criminals.

Councillors have pinpointed 12 possible sites for cameras in Barnoldswick and eight in Earby.

But the number of cameras will depend on the final cost of the scheme.

The plans will be discussed at Pendle council's executive tonight.

The cameras can be programmed to focus on different areas and monitoring equipment will be at Barnoldswick police station and Earby police shop.

Pendle Council's West Craven Committee put £28,640 towards the scheme and match funding has come from developers, Lancashire County Council and the market town initiative. Barnoldswick and Earby parish councils will also be approached for financial support.

The area's development team leader Scott Whalley has said the point of the cameras is to gather evidence, rather than spot crime as it happens.

He said: "Although the cameras will be unmanned for the majority of the time, they will be recording 24-hours a day.

"Any incidents that happen will be recorded and we can go straight to that bit of the tape."

Coun David Whipp said: "We may not have a fantastic budget but this goes to show that where there's a will, there's a way."