BURNLEY and Pendle police are leading the fight against mobile phone crime with a pioneering new scheme.

Police say the number of mobiles either being lost or stolen in the division is "astronomical" and they are taking steps to cut down on the problem.

As part of the bid to crackdown on a growing problem throughout the country, police are encouraging people to note down the unique serial number from their phone so it can be traced more easily if lost or stolen.

Police say they will also check any suspicious mobile phones whenever they can, when people are arrested for example, and will carry out spot checks on market stalls selling mobiles.

To check the serial numberm press the star key, hash, 06 and hash again and the number will appear on the screen.

The number should then be written down and kept in a safe and secure place.

Detective Inspector Stuart Barlow of Pendle police said: "The number of mobile phones that we have reported to us that are lost or stolen is absolutely astronomical.

"We are determined to do something about it so we are encouraging people to take this step.

"It is very easy and takes literally a few seconds but it makes phones very traceable if they do go missing."

Inspector Barlow said that once police had a record of the serial number of a lost or stolen phone, they could check it against any phones seized or checked during police enquiries.

Unlike the SIM card, which is the phone's memory, and the serial number written on the back of the battery, the serial number which appears on the screen cannot be removed by thieves.