RENEWED calls have been made for closed-circuit TV cameras in Clayton-le-Moors.

Old folk living in the Willow Close, Lower Barnes Street and Alexandra Close areas were too frightened to report crime, Hyndburn police and community forum was told.

Children as young as 12 and 13 were going around with baseball bats, claimed a local resident who did not want to be named.

He said: "Crimes are seen but the elderly are intimidated by these youths and will not report them.

"They just close the curtains," he added.

Coun Cath Thom said there were some great kids in the area but a minority of youths who had "declared war" on their neighbours.

She added: "I would hope Clayton is at the top of the pecking order for cameras."

The Hyndburn Partnership are expecting to hear any day the outcome of their bid for Home Office funding to extend the existing CCTV system.

However, Clayton-le-Moors is not one of the areas earmarked for a camera if the bid is successful.

Superintendent Malcolm Rawcliffe said they had wanted to put one in Barnes Square but they simply could not afford the matched funding for all the cameras they wanted.

In the longer term, cash to buy portable camera equipment was being sought as part of a new bid for government funds only just submitted.

Supt Rawcliffe said: "Portable camera equipment would mean we could respond very quickly to problems by installing some temporary equipment."

He said police were aware of and were tackling problems caused by a minority of young people in the area.

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