BOSSES of a town centre store are hoping to sink burglars who keep raiding their premises - with water.

As part of a £10,000 security upgrade at Rawtenstall's Woolworths on Bank Street, the store has been fitted with Smartwater, a liquid that stays on the skin for weeks and shows up under ultraviolet (UV) lighting.

The Rawtenstall branch was the only one in Lancashire and among 30 stores across the country to have the system installed after it was targeted by burglars a number of times in recent months. The substance is based on the principles of DNA with each Smartwater system containing its own unique chemical code which can place offenders at the scene of a crime.

Now in a bid to combat crime, anybody trying to break into the shop will be sprayed with the solution.

Michael Carpenter, risk manager for Woolworths, said: "Smartwater will reduce crime levels at the store and minimise disruption for shoppers. It is the new way to beat retail crime.

"If you are sprayed with Smartwater, you will carry an invisible DNA-style link back to the store so you cannot deny that you were there at a particular time.

"The stores chosen were ones where we had problems with break-ins and we feel this will make people think twice before breaking in."

The new system went live at the weekend after it was trialled at five other stores in the Midlands last year.

The firm said after the installation of Smartwater elsewhere, there have been no reports of any theft or even attempted burglaries.

Other places in East Lancashire with the crime busting substance include Burnley General Hospital where computers, printers and other expensive equipment were marked; Burnley's historic and Towneley Hall which saw historic artefacts receive their own unique identity.

Royal Blackburn Hospital and 12 schools were also marked in Smartwater.