RESIDENTS are being warned to use or lose appointment-based surgeries with the police after the scheme was extended.

The surgeries -- designed to prevent problems being lost in call centre queues -- were piloted in Mill Hill, Feniscowles and Galligreaves in May.

They were initially attended very poorly -- until police posted letters to residents and the scheme was extended across Blackburn.

But PS Paul Goodall, the officer in charge of Blackburn's 10 community beat managers who are staging the surgeries, said: "There is a service there and it is up to people to go to them and keep them going."

As well as police, representatives from other organisations will be present at the surgeries, giving residents the chance to take comprehensive help for their problems.

The surgeries are also valuable for the beat managers in getting to know people on their patch.

PS Goodall took the idea from Blackpool, thought to be the only other place in Lancashire to have appointed-based surgeries.

He was concerned that people were ringing police call centres to report anti-social behaviour, but giving up if they spoke to an operator who said an officer could not be sent.

PS Goodall added: "These surgeries give people 20 minutes to get it off their chest. They can speak about the issues that concern them.

"During the pilot scheme, most of the complaints were about anti-social behaviour and people giving us information about criminal activity. That has proved very useful."

The dates for the surgeries, to take place in October and November, are yet to be announced.