VILLAINS will soon come under scrutiny in Haslingden town centre -- thanks to the pull of people power.

Six closed circuit cameras will start rolling later this month in a £108,000 crime-busting initiative in the centre.

Haslingden has the highest level of town centre crime in the Valley, especially vehicle and alcohol-related crime.

And when residents were asked what they would most like to see to combat crime, more than 70 per cent put CCTV camera cover as a top priority.

The powers that be listened and raised the cash for the initiative.

The cameras will go up over car parks at Deardengate, Hindle Street and Dale Street, parts of Blackburn Road, Manchester Road, Regent Street, Helmshore Road, Grane Road and Bury Road.

The scheme is funded under the Government's Crime Reduction initiative with support from the Action for Haslingden Partnership, which made a £27,000 grant towards the cost.

It will be supervised by Rossendale Community Safety Partnership while Rossendale Borough Council will fund continued monitoring at a cost of £15,000 a year.

Images will be fed to a control room in Burnley, with an emergency relay to police in Burnley.