A TOP firm of business advisers and chartered accountants has agreed a sponsorship deal with Lancashire's motorway police.

Pierce, based in Blackburn, has backed the safety campaign Making the Motorways of Lancashire Safer, aimed at reducing crime and casualties. Mark Maden-Wilkinson, a partner in the company, said: "We thought it was a worthwhile cause to provide some police support to help serve the community."

Pierce will provide equipment worth £4,500 to the annual scheme, launched in 1998, which is supported each year by four businesses.

The money they provide is used to buy the latest hi-tech equipment, including in-car cameras and automatic number plate readers. As part of the sponsorship deal, Pierce's logo will be displayed on motorway vehicles with a road safety message. The agreement between Pierce and the Lancashire force will run until March 2005.

Inspector Phil Cottam, from Lancashire motorway police unit, added: "All the people who sponsor our work on the motorway are helping to make the county's motorway network safer for all users. All extra money is channelled towards technical equipment, which takes us to the forefront of that aspect of policing."