PLANS to upgrade Accrington's ageing CCTV network have received a boost after an additional £64,000 funding was announced for the project.

Hyndburn Council has already said £250,000 will be invested in the scheme, which has helped to secure more than 3,000 arrests in the past 10 years.

The network of 29 CCTV cameras in Accrington town centre is to be replaced by a hi-tech digital system after concerns were raised about reliability.

Town centre manager Bill Huntley said the improvements, expected to be completed in the next few months, would make a "significant contribution towards enhancing community safety."

He said: "The old analogue system has been showing serious signs of wear and tear.It is also proving increasingly expensive to maintain and repair and compromises are having to be made in relation to living with certain faults."

The cash has come from the government's single regeneration budget.

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "It sends a clear message to people that their priorities are our priorities."