A QUIRKY new video is being used in Lancashire police’s campaign aimed at spoiling Christmas for criminals.

The video features members of the force and communities from across the county getting into the festive spirit – singing to Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.

Children, students and community groups from Blackburn, Burnley and Blackpool are seen singing and dancing with members of their local neighbourhood team, police dogs, horses and the constabulary’s operations support unit.

Also shown are officers from the Channel Four documentary 999: What’s Your Emergency? which was filmed in Blackpool.

The three-minute video comes as part of the police’s Christmas campaign – Bah Humbug – which will see residents being offered useful advice to help them keep both themselves and their property safe over the festive period.

Blackburn officer Sgt Louis Boyle said: "We want people to enjoy themselves over the festive period but we want to make it clear that we will be doing our best to spoil Christmas for criminals.

“The video is just one of the tactics we are using to get across crime prevention messages, which are so important at this time of year. It’s designed to be a creative and innovative whilst showing a side of the police that people don’t normally see such as riot training and the work of dog handlers and police horses.

“Hopefully the messages in the video will stay in people’s heads at a time when they could be distracted by the excitement of Christmas."