PLANS to set up a crack squad to tackle yobbish behaviour in Burnley have been given the green light.

A working group at Burnley Council, formed to examine the progress in the fight against anti-social behaviour, has recommended the introduction of a dedicated team to deal with the problem.

Their proposals were approved at a meeting of the council's executive committee last night.

The council already has one anti-social behaviour officer but the report suggests creating a "core team" of three people, backed by a seconded police officer, to root out bad behaviour through enforcement, education and prevention.

The team would carry out enforcement work and deal with residents face-to-face as well as providing telephone advice and co-ordinating existing partnerships.

Funding of £35,000 is already available through the Home Office Building Safer Communities Fund and the council is hoping more money will come from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

Council community safety manager Melva Burton said: "The vision is for an anti-social behaviour core team of three officers and a seconded police officer working within the community safety team in the council's new Streetscene unit.

"The team will carry out enforcement work in private sector housing and liaise closely with housing providers, deal with low-level anti-social behaviour issues through face-to-face work with residents and work with other agencies involved in enforcement, support and prevention work."