A BID to bring closed circuit television cover to Nelson has been welcomed by Pendle's MP Gordon Prentice.

He is supporting a joint bid put together by Burnley, Rossendale and Pendle councils, which includes funding 13 cameras in Nelson.

Although Burnley has led the way with security camera cover for some years, CCTV has not been adopted by Pendle Council in the past despite strong pressure from traders and some councillors. Said Mr Prentice: "It is good news that the council is now speaking with one united voice on this crucially important issue and that it supports the principle of CCTV. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this joint bid will succeed and I have already written to Home Secretary Jack Straw calling for a slice of the new money now available for CCTV."

If the bid succeeds the system will link to a central monitoring station in Burnley.

The MP added: "We should embrace this technology which is demonstrably effective in deterring crime. It beats me why some people in the past have gone out of their way to to put a spoke in things and stop it happening."

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