UNIFORMED crime-busters patrolling Accrington town centre are fighting for survival.

The pioneering community safety warden scheme faces an uncertain future when Government funding ends in March next year.

Crime in the town centre has been slashed since the introduction of closed circuit TV cameras.

But Guardhall Security Services, Accrington, managing agents for the community warden scheme, say the nine wardens are a key part of that success story.

Managing director Shaun Raywood said: "Any camera system is only as good as the response to what the cameras see.

"The community wardens have proved their worth and are fighting for survival.

"Unless the funding comes forward, they are not going to be here in the future.

"It would be sad for the borough to lose something in which they are front runners with people from all over the country coming to look at how the Accrington scheme works." Mr Raywood says the council should be looking at ways of funding the wardens to ensure they stay on patrol beyond the three-year project.

Between November 1995 and November 1996 the wardens clocked up more than 13,000 patrol hours and handled almost 5,600 inquiries from the public.

They were indirectly involved with 40 arrests, assisted police in 56 arrests, detained eight other suspects, and responded to almost 50 complaints of nuisance or disturbance.

Wardens have given first aid, helped with lost and found property, lost children, and road accidents.

A spokesman for Hyndburn Council said: "The council and the Hyndburn Partnership are currently exploring alternative sources of income to carry the project on."

Money for the TV cameras and safety wardens came from the Government's single regeneration budget.

Warden funding ends in March 1998, and camera funding in the year 2000.

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