POLICE in Burnley have released the dates and locations of a mobile caravan tour, launched as part of its bid to get closer to the community.

The mobile police surgeries are being held in a specially adapted caravan on loan from Whitford's Caravan Centre in Marlborough Street, Burnley.

The vehicle will be at different locations around the town between 10am and 2pm this week until Friday and next week between Monday and Friday.

Community beat officers will man the mobile office, offering advice and assistance to local residents. If successful, the scheme could be introduced permanently.

Sgt Nick Hodgeson from Burnley Police said: "We are keen to increase accessibility and get out and about and listen to residents' concerns.

"A number of our community beat officers are already doing that by holding police surgeries at schools and community centres.

"However, we realise that not everyone can get to those venues, which is why we have got the caravan.

"It means we can go on the road and take the surgeries to the people rather than ask people to come to the surgeries.

"In this way we are getting get right to the heart of the local community."

The surgeries will be held in the town centre precinct tomorrow and Friday and on Friday, May 5; the junction of Coalclough Lane and St Matthew's Street on Thursday and on Tuesday, April 30; and Hebrew Road on Wednesday, May 1.

Sgt Hodgeson added: "This is another example of our commitment to get closer to the community we serve.

"The officers are not just there to retrieve information from the public about crime.

"They are there to reassure and suuport them through a physical presence."