HYNDBURN residents are being asked to get involved in a police crackdown on street crime by volunteering for a victim counselling service.

Victim Support Lancashire's Hyndburn and Rossendale branch is appealing for volunteers to help them in their role in the Safer Streets in Lancashire initiative launched by Lancashire Constabulary last week.

The county-wide operation aims to target drug dealers, seen as one of the main sources of street crime, and will see officers conduct one raid every day.

The first raids in Hyndburn took place on Friday when officers conducted two swoops on houses in Belfield Road, Accrington, and Walmsley Close, Church.

The raid produced a haul of class A and B drugs believed to include ecstasy, amphetamine paste and cannabis resin. Six people were arrested and released on police bail pending the results of forensic tests.

Victim Support offers support, advice and information to anyone who is the victim of a street crime through its network of area offices.

It also offers help to anyone called as a witness in a trial after a street crime through its witness service.

Area manager Julie Young said new volunteers were essential with the increase in street crime.

"We greatly value the work undertaken by our volunteers as we could not deliver our service without them," she said.

"There are increasing demands on our resources, but we want to help people get on with their lives and recover from the effects of crime, and we urgently need to train new volunteers willing to help in this task."

The charity, which relies on donations and grants to cover 30 per cent of its costs, also needs volunteers to help with fundraising.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should contact Irene Mawdsley on 01254 871198.