HOSPITAL visitors have been given a reassurance over car park security after bosses admitted there had been a crime "blip".

Since the start of the year, two incidents of car crime in and around Queen's Park Hospital in Haslingden Road, Blackburn, have been reported to the police each month.

In the latest a £20,000 car was broken into when it was left unattended for an hour.

But the hospital said there is little else that can be done to safeguard property and reassured visitors the number of cases of car crime had reduced "tenfold in five years".

Elizabeth Nixon, 79, of Beechwood Drive, Feniscowles, was in hospital recovering from a heart attack when her visiting son's seven-seater Hyundai was broken into.

The back passenger window of the car was smashed and a CD player worth around £300 stolen.

She said: "He left his car in broad daylight with security wardens apparently looking after it and security cameras covering the area. But it is not working.

"You have paid your money to park there, your car should be safe. But the hospital are washing their hands of the problem. It is a very low act when the cars are parked in the hospital grounds when people are visiting someone sick."

Queen's Park Hospital bosses operate CCTV surveillance on the car park, employ a warden to watch over vehicles 24 hours a day and work closely with local police.

John Dell, acting chief executive of the hospital, said: "Targeting cars in a hospital car park could be critical if ever it was a doctor or someone who really needs their car.

"There has been a blip recently but in the main we are pleased that car crime has been reduced.

"We would of course apologise to anyone who has been a victim but we are on top of it."