RED-FACED police have lost the key to a safe which contains piles of cash seized from suspects.

The safe, inside the property room at Greenbank police station, Blackburn, is used to store money taken during raids so it can be returned to people if they are cleared.

Police have refused to reveal how many people's money is locked away, how much cash is inside or when the key was lost.

But the safe is thought to contain all the cash taken from suspects throughout Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley - potentially thousands of pounds.

Chairman of the Lancashire Police Authority, Coun Malcolm Doherty, said officers had been "careless".

He said: "I would say the key has been misplaced rather than lost, but it still strikes me as strange, and someone has been very careless.

"I'm sure the Chief Superintendent should be investigating what has happened and taking steps to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council Colin Rigby called for an urgent review into police key handling procedures after officers admitted that they had "mislaid" the key somewhere in the station.

But police said they would not be investigating the incident, and no disciplinary action would be taken.

A spokesman said they had "no idea" who had been responsible for the key when it was lost.

The situation was exposed after Robert Balderstone, 41, of Soutians Avenue, Little Harwood, was told he could not have his money back when he went to collect cash from police a week ago.

A total of £1,380 was taken in raids on his home in March and April, but charges of supplying cannabis were dropped.

Officers gave him a cheque for £975 seized in March, but refused to give him the £405 taken in April, saying the money was locked in the safe and he would have to wait for a locksmith.

The next day, officers admitted they had made another mistake in refusing to pay Mr Balderstone, and repaid the money from police bank accounts.

He said: "The whole thing has been a complete farce. First they told me to come and get my money because I was entitled to it back, then when I got there I was told I would have to wait for a locksmith. I thought I might not be able to afford Christmas presents for my children.

"The next thing I know, they call me in again, saying there had been another mistake and I could have it, but that was only after the Lancashire Telegraph and my solicitor had been in touch. They're a complete shambles."

A police spokesperson said: "When the man attended the police station to collect his cash, the keys to the safe could not be located.

"He has now been reunited with his money and whilst we can confirm the key has been misplaced within the police station, the safe is in a secure location and this will not be an issue for anyone reclaiming their money."

When asked who had been in charge of the key, a second police spokesperson said: "We don't know who lost it - if we did it might have been easier to find.

"This is a minor matter and no action will be taken against anyone."

She said a locksmith was being called in, and the safe would be open within the next few days.

Coun Rigby said police needed to overhaul their security procedures immediately.

He said: "This is very embarrassing for the police.

"I would assume most places of that nature would have a key register, where keys for such a safe are signed out and back in.

"That would be a reasonable precaution to take and they should immediately review the system they have for handling keys."