TRADERS in Accrington town centre have been called on to chip in towards the bill for community safety warden patrols.

Hyndburn policy and resources committee last night pledged to lobby all possible sources of funding, to ensure the survival of the pioneering uniformed patrols when government funding runs out in March.

Council leader George Slynn, said: "Having received national recognition, it would be an own goal in public relations terms and logic if we were not to do all we can to keep this service."

Tory group leader Coun Peter Britcliffe, said the wardens, along with TV cameras, had produced a fantastic reduction in crime and the Home Office should pick up some of the bill.

Coun Dave Massey, calling on traders to put their hands in their pockets a bit more, said: "They are saving quite a lot of money through less stealing, and should be paying less insurance."

Coun Bill Goldsmith said the gains were by the public at large, traders and to some extent the police. "I think a special plea should go out to traders, whether it falls on deaf ears I don't know."

Coun Britcliffe said the council should be wary before it started asking traders in Accrington to pay. He said Accrington was not the most buoyant town in East Lancashire and he was not aware there had been reductions in insurance premiums for anybody because the wardens and cameras had been put in.

He added: "If there was a reduction in these sky-high charges, I think they would be more likely to be willing to pay something towards the scheme."

Coun Sheelagh Delaney described the wardens as a best-value service, not only saving police time, but also grief and suffering of victims of crime.

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