PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has welcomed the news that four new community beat officers will soon be taking to the streets of Earby and Barnoldswick -- but not everyone is as enthusiastic.

Bob Spencer, owner of Our Cafe, in Earby, was reluctant to get over-excited about the idea and said something should have been done sooner.

The new policing structure includes the appointment of four community beat officers -- three in Barnoldswick and one in Earby -- in April this year.

Mr Prentice, who lives in Barnoldswick, said: "This is something that the people in West Craven have been asking for. There is a lot of reassurance felt by just seeing an officer on the streets. These areas have not so far had their own community beat officers and this is what the public wants.

"The police will be monitoring the results to ensure this is a change for the better and I for one am sure this is a move in the right direction. It will certainly be welcomed by the local communities." But Mr Spencer, who has had the windows of his cafe smashed by vandals four times in five years and has had to spend £6,000 replacing them, was not confident about the appointment.

He said: "All of us here want police on the streets and want a return to how it used to be 30 years ago. All it takes is someone here to patrol the streets from 5pm until about 1am every day and the trouble would stop.

"The police keep coming up with ideas but the chances are that this new structure won't last either. They keep saying there is a shortage of money but it shouldn't matter how much it costs people on their rates if it works.

"An extra police officer for Earby will help but walking the streets during the day won't work because those that cause trouble are either at school or still in bed."

Lancashire Constabulary came up with the new structure following surveys and consultation of the communities involved and it was clear from the responses that a large proportion of people were keen to see police on the beat.

Earby parish councillor Vic Marsh said: "I think it is a good idea and was very glad to hear they were providing more police.

"We used to have a police officer dealing with this area a couple of years ago who was doing more or less the same job.

"He got to know everyone and there was a marked improvement but then everything was reorganised and he was moved.

"There's been quite a bit of vandalism to the shops in the centre of Earby so if this puts and end to it all it is a good thing. If elderly people going into town or people walking round at night, know there is a police officer about they will be very happy."