A PRESTON man has volunteered to help police crack down on crime.

Graham Rouson, landlord at the Plungington Tavern in Plungington Road is collecting information from more than 60 businesses in the area as part of Business Watch, a pilot scheme launched in January.

Mr Rouson, 50, who has been a landlord for ten years, will create a log of unreported crimes provided by local entrepreneurs.

He said: "Apparently for every reported crime, there's about ten that aren't, so hopefully by collecting information about those the police will be able to get a feel of the area so they can form strategies to help us combat our biggest problems."

Mr Rouson, who was chairman for Pub Watch, said the scheme was badly needed because trade is suffering. "Plungington is good for shopping but in the last ten years it's been degraded because of too many people causing trouble and shops closing down.

"I want people to start coming back to the area. We all want it to be prosperous again."