YOB patrols will be hitting East Lancashire’s streets this weekend with hundreds of special officers tackling anti-social behaviour.

Special constables — who are voluntary officers but with the same powers of arrest — will be patrolling anti-social behaviour hotspots.

They will be working with regular police to crackdown on underage drinking and nuisance on the transport system, as well as carrying out Operation Staysafes.

Pubs, clubs and off-licences will also be subject to spot checks and the specials will be on the look-out for criminal damage.

Lancashire has 470 special constables and the majority will be spread across operations including visits to repeat victims of anti-social behaviour in Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, seizing alcohol and ringing parents to collect children.

They will also be working with the Safer Travel Unit and working with Hyndburn Council to improve safety standards in taxis.

Similar activities will be done in Pennine on Saturday and Sunday, as well as crime prevention advice in supermarkets.

In Burnley, specials will be doing test purchases in pubs and spot checks on taxis and fining those parking and stopping in the town centre restricted areas.

In Padiham, they will be helping police with road safety stop checks and in Rossendale, dedicated neighbourhood patrols will be tackling youth nuisance.

Chorley will see similar activities, as well as visits to problematic tenants.

Inspector Wendy Bower said: “Their role will be to offer reassurance; to get out and talk to residents about problems in their community and to take positive action to address concerns about anti-social behaviour.”