THE first of Pendle's "alleygates" which will seal off back streets across the borough from intruders were due to be installed today.

Pendle was chosen to pilot the national scheme that aims to reduce burglaries in crime spots. Burns Street and Chatham Street in Nelson were selected as the first two streets to receive the gates.

It was announced the Home Office would provide £128,000 to fund the scheme, which protects back streets of terraced properties.

Around 25 streets across the borough are likely to be involved with streets initially selected on the basis of crime statistics followed by a consultation with residents. The scheme in Pendle has been the first to also involve prisoners in the scheme.

Offenders in prisons in the North West have made the gates and offenders on community service orders will help to install the gateposts and paint them.

The idea to let inmates manufacture the two-metre high gates and gain an NVQ qualification in welding in the process came from the Community Safety Partnership in Pendle. Coun Azhar Ali, leader of Pendle Council, was delighted when Pendle was chosen.

He said: "This is a tremendous coup to be able to pilot this national scheme and is a result of the hard work of Pendle Community Safety Partnership.

"We believe that the scheme has great value in that it ties in the reduction of crime with the rehabilitation of offenders both in prison and those ordered to undertake community service."