BURNLEY'S own community TV network has been switched on with the aim of cutting crime and making the borough a better place to live.

The hi-tech scheme was launched by BBC Crimewatch UK presenter Nick Ross at a ceremony at Turf Moor yesterday.

The service will use the latest broadband technology to broadcast information on Burnley Council services, events, news, sport and weather.

Crime appeals and missing person messages could also be broadcast.

Nick Ross said: "The great merit of this system is its ability to put right some misconceptions.

"Crime has been falling since 1995, but almost nobody believes it.

"This system is a way to make people in the community recognise the truth.

"It is also a fantastic way to go on building civic pride in this remarkable community."

The Big Brother-style scheme sees up to 10 screens, costing £6,000 each, in cafes at Asda and Tesco, Cath's bus station cafe, McDonald's, in St James's Street, Brun House, Burnley General Hospital outpatients department, Padiham medical centre, Gala Bingo and the council's benefits and taxation hall, in Parker Lane. More than 60,000 people a week are expected to see the screens.

Rolling programmes up to 40 minutes will be shown and can be updated at just 10 minutes' notice.

The service will be run by the borough's Community Safety Partnership, which involves a range of public and private organisations including the council and the emergency services.

The launch was also attended by Lord Tony Clarke, who chaired the Task Force report into the Burnley riots of 2001, and representatives from the council, police, fire service and Community Communications Network Ltd, which set up the system.

Funds to set up the scheme and run it for a year have been met by a grant from the Home Office and money from the council and the Community Safety Partnership

The partnership enlisted CCN to install the system after hearing of a similar one in Easington, County Durham, last year. It is first of its kind in Lancashire.