THREE East Lancashire schools and a town centre are to get closed circuit TV systems to crack crime, it was announced today.

Our Lady and St John School, Blackburn, and Peel Park County Primary School, Accrington, are to be among the first in the country to get government cash for the video security system.

In Burnley, the town centre is to get nearly £200,000 for a comprehensive camera system, while Habergham High School will also benefit.

The cash is part of a £15 million cash handout for CCTV covering more than 250 projects nationwide, which includes schools for the first time.

Our Lady and St John is to get £17,000 from the Home Office towards a £22,000 scheme.

Peel Park County Primary will get most of the £17,000 it needs to install the cameras.

The Burnley Town Centre scheme will involve the Government forking out £193,000 towards the £371,000 needed to install a comprehensive CCTV system. And Habergham High will get £11,000 out of £14,000.

Announcing the grants, Home Office Minister Tom Sackville said: "CCTV is extremely effective in cutting crime. Young criminals know that if they are caught on video, it is not even worth entering a plea of not guilty. We are installing 10,000 cameras over three years.

"The majority of the money has gone to town centre schemes this year but schools which applied for grants and failed should re-apply next year, when another £15 million will be pumped into the schemes."

About one third of the 800 schemes submitted nationwide have got government support, after being evaluated for effectiveness, value for money and the level of community support and outside cash involved.

Last year the Government provided £5 million in grants for CCTV and this year's £15 million will be repeated in the next two years.

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