POLICE today revealed Hyndburn's first community warden recruits were in training but said: "They're no substitute for officers on the beat."

The newly appointed team will patrol the streets of Accrington tackling problems including litter, dog fouling and nuisance youths -- but they will not have the power of arrest.

They will be able to issue fixed penalty notices for litter and dog fouling, with the aim of improving the overall environment in the areas.

Sergeant Mark Porter, of Accrington police, said: "The wardens are not going to be substitutes for police officers and will not have police powers.

"But because they will be an extra set of eyes and ears on the streets and residents will be able to report information to them we are hoping to see an effect on crime levels.

"Initially their roles will revolve around environmental health matters such as abandoned vehicles, rubbish and dog fouling and the more the scheme goes on the more effective they will be for members of the public.

"But we will not see for some time yet what the actual effects will be."

Police training for the wardens has included guidance on how to identify drugs and people who have been using them as well as background information on the implementation of ASBOs (anti-social behaviour orders ) and how these are maintained.

Basic safety training is also being taught.

The idea for the scheme -- funded by the Home Office and Neighbourhood Renewal cash -- first came from the Crime and Disorder Partnership.

The wardens, who will be managed by Hyndburn Borough Council, will be based at Accrington police station.

Individual wardens have been appointed specifically for the Church Kirk area and the Woodnook area while the remainder of the team -- which will eventually comprise 10 wardens and one supervisor -- will be responsible for patrolling the rest of Springhill, Central and Church wards.

The scheme is similar to others elsewhere in the country but is the first of its kind in the borough and could be expanded throughout the area if it is successful.