TOWN centre crime in Blackburn is at an all time low thanks to the phenomenal success of closed circuit television - with crime levels down by 77 per cent.

The latest figures have revealed that since the 'spy' cameras were introduced in June 1996 thieves, drug dealers, vandals and hoax callers have been forced to move elsewhere.

Now plans are under way to obtain funding to introduce the scheme to Darwen Town Centre.

Councillor Andy Kay, chairman of the borough's regeneration committee, said: "There is no doubt that the introduction of these cameras has proved to be a worthwhile investment, keeping incidents of crime to an all-time low in Blackburn.

"We hope that the next six months will see the crime rates fall even further. We have been so impressed by the CCTV system that we are continuing to seek funding to extend the scheme to cover Darwen town centre."

Sergeant Alan Holt, from Blackburn Police's crime prevention unit, added: "The cameras have helped us to arrest someone who carried out an assault in the town centre and a person who was using stolen credit cards in recent weeks.

"Had it not been for recordings made by the CCTV cameras, these arrests would not have been made."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.