CRIME-busting security cameras will go up all over Burnley, if the Home Office gives the go-ahead to a £371,000 extension of the succesful town centre scheme.

Five schools, Burnley College, a health centre, a retail park and two railway stations are among 18 new schemes bidding for crime-busting cameras.

Demand for cover has rocketed, following the sparkling success of the council's £200,000 CCTV system, which has sent town centre and car stack crime plumetting since its introduction last year.

This time, the council has again linked with police and business leaders to put forward the town's challenge for a slice of £15 million Government cash on offer for camera projects nationally.

Burnley council is putting up £30,000 towards the scheme extension and a further £101,000 has been promised by bodies eager to join for cover.

Project chiefs say they are confident they have put together a package good enough to persuade the Home Office to provide the £239,000 balance.

Demand for inclusion is growing says town hall project officer Lea Fothergill. "We are getting inquiries almost daily.

If Burnley gets the go-ahead - a decision is expected in May - the new system of camera cover could be ready by the end of the year.

Schools which have bid for inclusion in the scheme are Rose Hill junior school, Towneley High, St Hildas, St Peter's primary and Ivy Bank.

Crime profiles provided by them to support the bids paint a black picture.

Rosehill alone report a story of glue sniffing, under age drinking and criminal damage, with 650 incidents since 1994, including 60 assaults robberies and burglaries.

If successful, Burnley will be the envy of neighbouring towns, many like Pendle not even yet beyond the talking stage on camera cover.

Police chiefs say there is clear evidence that the Burnley centre system has sent known criminals racing for the boundary - to commit crime in other towns.

Project partners, Paul Dawson, chairman of Initiative Burnley; Kath Reade, leader of Burnley council and police chief, Supt Mike Griffin will officially sign the bid document at a special town hall ceremony next week.

Said Coun Reade: "We must, of course, tackle the causes of crime but we must also provide practical immediate protection from criminals.

"CCTV is a deterrent to anti-social people and we are doing all we can to secure this funding."

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