BURNLEY'S community warden service could be improved, following a review by council bosses.

Changes could include increasing the number of high visibility patrols, with wardens also calling into schools, community centres and other community buildings to hold face-to-face meetings with local councillors every month to discuss issues in the area.

Wardens could also work more closely with environmental officers, community beat managers and police community support officers (PCSOs).

Proposals are designed to increase the visibility of the service, expand and develop its work and improve its co-ordination and effectiveness by working closer with partners, such as the police.

Burnley Council's executive committee gave the go-ahead to the service review at their meeting on Tuesday.

Councillor Janice Swainston, executive member for social welfare, said: "The community warden service aims to provide a reassuring presence on the streets, working in close partnership with other agencies in the regeneration areas of Burnley, helping the communities they work in to become safer and cleaner places in which to live.

"These improvements will help make the service even better."

The warden service runs in South West Burnley and the Urban II areas, including Barclay, Coal Clough, Burnley Wood, Fulledge, Turf Moor, Rosegrove, Stoops, Trinity, Piccadilly, Stoneyholme and Daneshouse, Duke Bar and parts of Bank Hall and Queen's Park.

Work includes regular patrols to reduce fear of crime, monitoring anti-social behaviour, checking the levels of fly-tipping and general cleanliness, organising regular clean-ups and organising projects for children and young people and activities that bring the community together.