TRADERS in Accrington market hall have joined forces with an existing town centre scheme to crack down on crime.

Town centre traders have enjoyed the benefits of a police radio link-up scheme for around five years but the

market hall was not included in the scheme.

Now a joint initiative between police, market stallholders and LANCAP -

Lancashire Partnership Against Crime - has led to three radios being bought specifically for the market hall.

Previously there were 35 in operation around the town centre including those carried by security staff in the Arndale centre.

Each radio links directly to Accrington police station and information passed over the network is linked to the CCTV cameras in the town as well as to other traders.

The scheme has proved highly effective in relaying information on suspicious characters, bag-snatchers, and tracking their movements around the town. The system has even proved useful in

reuniting lost children with their parents.

The additional three radios which have been put into use this week cost £800. Half of this was paid for by LANCAP on the condition that market traders raised the same amount.

Market manager Karen Hall said: "The radios mean traders can now keep an eye out for fellow traders as well as for the shoppers. It is definitely a step in the right direction."