FIRMS on an East Lancashire business park have won praise from police officers after teaming up to cut crime.

Businesses on the Altham Industrial Estate, Altham Lane, have put aside their commercial differences and teamed up to pool their resources in the fight against crime.

Under a scheme led by Groundwork, the environmental regeneration charity, the businesses communicate regularly by e-mail, have joint meetings with the police, and pass on information.

Now the scheme could be expanded to add in security patrols, funded jointly by the businesses.

PC Rachel Carbury, of Accrington police, praised the scheme. She said: "Through this system, as well as contacting the police, they notify each other.

"It's more eyes out there looking for people to see if there are criminals about. More eyes looking at them might deter them."

Mick Smith, business programs manager for Groundwork, said: "All the businesses were interested in security. We looked at a number of issues, like transport and the image of the estate, but security was top of the agenda."

Under the scheme, known as Green Business Park, the estate has warning signs, employees cars all have a sticker confirming they work in the area, and the business park has been covered by the police helicopter.

Mr Smith said: "The aim is to bring companies together on an industrial estate to address common issues and common problems. What has worked very successfully has been an e-mail network so they're all communicating with each other and helping each other.

"When there is an incident of suspicious activity people are aware of it and sharing information.

"So if somebody has had an incident other companies are offering to look on their security cameras to see if anything has been picked up."

Plans are now in the pipeline for a shared website to help the firms communicate even more.