LANCASHIRE Police authority is set to publish its annual report.

The report compliments the force's annual policing plan and sets out aims and policies for the coming 12 months.

The law means the police authority has to publish the report and the document also measures the performance of the force against targets set by the Home Office.

According to the statistics, crime across Lancashire fell by six per cent over the last 12 months. In the area covered by Eastern Division -- Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley -- crime rates fell by 8.6 per cent.

Results were even better in Burnley and Rossendale, where crime fell by 9.2 per cent over the last year.

Despite the impressive results the policing bill for East Lancashire is still the highest in the county.

Last year the cost for policing in Eastern Division was £26.3million and £26.4million in the Pennine division. The next highest bill was in the Preston area, at just over £25million.

Dr Ruth Henig, chairman of the police authority, said: "All in all, the Lancashire Constabulary can be proud of its achievements in 1999/200 and the authority is pleased to record the fact in its annual report. We look forward to further successes in the years to come."