MORE than half of the money spent by Lancashire police on buying good and services since 2017 has gone to suppliers within the county,

This amounts to £62million and covers everything from the delivery of hay to its mounted division to the development of the new West Division Headquarters in Blackpool, police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw has revealed.

In 2017 he introduced his 'Backing Lancashire' drive to channel procurement spending to local businesses within the county where possible.

Now he has announced that as a result 54 per cent of all money spent by the force through suppliers has been put back into the county's economy.

Mr Grunshaw said: ""This amount of investment back into the people and businesses of our county highlights the power that putting Lancashire first wherever possible when it comes to spending on good or services can have.

"From the West Division Headquarters through all of our procurement at every value, I’m really pleased that my office and Lancashire Constabulary are playing a key role, in providing opportunities for local people.”