POLICE have joined forces with Burnley General Hospital in a bid to reduce the risk of hospital visitors falling victim to vehicle crime.

They have recruited security staff to help them administer their 'Vulnerable Vehicle' scheme, which will clamp down on crime.

Under the scheme, car registration plates will be noted of cars that are either insecure or have valuable items on show, before the owners are contacted with crime prevention advice.

Police said securing the support of others, like staff at Burnley General Hospital, means more people will benefit.

Police community support officer, Nigel Keates, who patrols the Queensgate area, came up with the idea.

He said: "The more people we have keeping an eye out for insecure vehicles the better so we are very grateful to the participating staff and their employers.

"As part of the scheme they will be supplied with vulnerable vehicle forms to fill in which details the car's registration number and why the vehicle parked on their car park is vulnerable.

"Each week, we will collect these and write to the car owners warning them that their car could have been attacked and advise how to prevent becoming a victim of crime."

The Vulnerable Vehicle scheme has already proved successful in helping drive down the number of car crimes across the Pennine division.

Hundreds of local residents have been contacted by police who found all sorts of valuables on display in cars, including handbags, jackets, purses and expensive tools.

Ralph Smith, security manager for Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Hospitals, said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with local police to help protect visitor, patient and staff vehicles.

"If we can help prevent just one of them falling prey to thieves, then we will be happy."