PEDAL power has helped wiped out crime and vandalism at a borough's cemetaries.

Police cycle patrols were introduced two weeks ago, along with an increase in beat officers, after a series of incidents in Hyndburn.

Today PC Rachel Carbery, who covers Accrington's Burnley Road Cemetery, said that since they started the cycle patrols they have had no repetition of the previous vandalsim.

Burnley Road Cemetery had 14 headstones knocked over and Church's Dill Hall Lane Cemetery's Wall of Remembrance was attacked last month

Insp Phil Cottam said there had been a slight rise in incidents in May.

A similar spate of attacks in 2001 led the council to employ Guardhall Security to patrol the cemeteries.

The police and cemetery security staff have also been taking down the names of any children found playing in the cemetery and asking their parents to stop them doing so.

The mountain bikes have also been used on general patrols and have been used to access remote areas and to follow criminals down paths where cars would not be able to go.

PC Carbery , who patrols the Milnshaw area, and Peel and Huncoat officer PC Lyndsay Molloy and her police community support officer Matthew Thornton, have been using their pedal power for the last two weeks.

Accrington's police chief, Inspector Phil Cottam, said: "I have been keeping an eye on it over the last two weeks and we have had no repetition of the vandalism that took place.

"What people need to know is that we will continue to do our best and the cycles are just one of the ways we can do that.

"We have patrols planned that cover both cemeteries and we have high visibilty car and foot patrols in the area.

"I do not feel that cemeteries are a proper place for children to use as playgrounds and we have been taking down names and addresses of any child found playing in them. We have then gone to their parents and asked them not to let them play there. Guardhall security have been taking down names as well."

The bikes were donated by resident's associations in Milnshaw and Laneside, and officers are easily visible with their bright orange uniforms.

Insp Cottam said: "Obviously the distressing desecration of the cemeteries over the past two weeks has been a case for major concern. We have made very great efforts to patrol the two cemeteries, in Burnley Road and Dill Hall Lane."

PC Rachel Carbery said: "Since we started we have had no further cases of vandalism, but these things happen sporadically so we have to wait and see. I feel it has been a success though because we have had no further cases and the people who have seen us have said they think it is great."

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "It's a great idea. I'm sure it will be a great assistance in helping us tackle this dreadful problem."