SOUTH Ribble Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators have embarked on a mission to secure CCTV cameras for Lostock Hall.

They want the cameras to counter the growing trend of vandalism in the area.

Norman Crossley, chairman of the South Ribble Neighbourhood Watch scheme, which covers 25,000 homes, said: "Because of the large number of take-away food outlets in the village, a lot of people come for food late at night, often worse for wear with drink.

"The area has deteriorated quite rapidly over the past few years and there is now a considerable level of serious and minor cases of vandalism in the area.

"Without being too intrusive, CCTV should keep everybody to a responsible form of behaviour, if they know that the cameras are there.

"It takes away the intimidation some residents feel and I think it will improve the quality of life for the villagers."

Norman and his colleagues are determined to get what they want - and are prepared to work as hard as they have to to make it work.

He added: "We know it will be hard work but have already met with the police, who will carry out a survey to see if we need it or not.

"If Preston and other places can do it, then so can we."

The success of Preston's CCTV was recently demonstrated when a distressed young girl in the town centre was handed back her bag by police - before she even realised it had been stolen.

CCTV operators noticed the upset young woman in a phone box on Sunday last week and watched as two men and a woman started to talk to her and calm her down.

They also noticed that one of the men stole her handbag while she was chatting with the other two people.

Police near Friargate were notified and they swooped on the man, arresting him and returning the bag to its owner, before she noticed it had gone.

Inspector Sarah Oldham said: "The arrest was made thanks to the observation skills by one of our CCTV operators.

"We were able to deploy patrols immediately approached the young woman with her bag.

"The operator was on the ball and had been looking into the phone box to see why the woman was upset when the offence occurred."

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