BLACKBURN with Darwen could have over 11,000 CCTV cameras across the borough, with most being privately monitored.

Research by Blackpool company CCTV.co.uk estimates that there is now one camera per 13 people in the UK as home security systems have increased in popularity.

If this statistic is correct, it would mean that Blackburn with Darwen has 11,498 CCTV cameras.

The companies research also shows that of these, 414 of these are Local Authority, council and Police CCTV camera monitoring systems.

This means that 11,084 of the CCTV cameras in Blackburn are corporate and business CCTV Systems, home CCTV Systems and non-installed Doorbell and wireless cameras.

Blackburn CCTV company CCTV Direct UK agree with the Blackpool companies research actually think there could be even more CCTV cameras in the borough.

Director Yunus Karbhari said: "There is no doubt there is an increase in the use of CCTV products both nationally and locally, having been established and based in Blackburn for 10 years now, we have seen demand increase year on year.

"There have been cut backs in policing which no doubt has hampered the work of crime investigation, therefore property owners both commercial and domestic are utilising CCTV to protect their properties and families.

"Simultaneously the cost of CCTV has dropped exponentially, a £100 camera in 2010 now costs £20. All this has contributed to 11,000 cameras in Blackburn with Darwen, which in my opinion is probably an under estimate."

Using the same calculations, Burnley could have 6,809 CCTV cameras while there would be 7,031 cameras in Pendle.

Hyndburn would have 6,216 CCTV systems, Rossendale home to 5,453 surveillance kits and the lowest number in Ribble Valley with an estimated 4,619 CCTV cameras.

CCTV.co.uk who install and repair CCTV Camera Systems in Blackpool, believe that the numbers have risen considerably this year as home security systems are becoming more affordable.

The number of surveillance cameras is rising year on year with anxiety over lockdown and the increase in online shopping driving the use of DIY CCTV systems at home for monitoring and security purposes.

The difficulty in calculating an exact number of CCTV cameras in Blackburn is because a private camera does not need to be officially registered with anyone being able to install CCTV to protect their property.