LANCASHIRE'S police and crime commissioner has said he expects every borough in the county will have a cop shop front desk open to the public within 12 months.

Andrew Snowden made the promise to councillors as he outlined his draft blueprint for the force.

He was appearing before the county's Police and Crime Panel at County Hall, Preston.

His promise followed the reopening of Clitheroe Police Station's front desk on Friday.

In 2017 Darwen, Waterfoot, Colne and Barnoldswick also lost their front desks.

Mr Snowden revealed the results of a survey of more than 5,000 people which showed residents of Ribble Valley borough felt the safest in the county and those in Blackpool most at risk.

He also said he expected to replicate the recent creation in Rossendale of a dedicated police team with more officers elsewhere in the county.

The meeting was discussing Mr Snowden's draft Police and Crime Plan 2021-2025 which states: "There will be access to an open police station in every borough of the county."

Asked by panel chairman Cllr Jackie Oakes from Rossendale how long this would take, he replied: "It is a work in progress. I would hope it would happen within the next 12 months."

She then asked him whether Waterfoot police station's front counter would reopen to which he replied it was something currently being considered.

Cllr Oakes then quizzed Mr Snowden about the changes in Rossendale which had seen its number of officers doubled from 17 to 36 with its police personnel split between response and neighbourhood roles instead of a 'hybrid model' where they all performed both roles.

He said it was an issue that was currently being 'actively' looked at on a borough by borough basis.

Mr Snowden said the results of his residents' survey showed that 79 per cent of women and 80 per cent of men felt safe in the county but added that figure dropped to 52 per cent who were confident a police officer would respond when needed.

The survey's figures show that while 91 per cent of Ribble Valley residents felt safe, only 54 per cent were confident of a police response.

The figures for Blackburn with Darwen borough were 75 per cent felt safe and 51 per cent were confident of a swift police response; for Hyndburn they were 74 per cent and 48 per cent; for Burnley 75 per cent and 55 per cent; for Pendle 79 per cent and 45 per cent; and for Rossendale 81 per cent and 51 per cent.