BURGLARY, violence and drug and alcohol abuse top the fears of Burnley residents, according to research for a crime and disorder strategy to be discussed in the town today.

The top five fears also include anti-social behaviour and vehicle offences.

Burnley's new crime and disorder strategy, due to the produced by the end of next month, will now be based on the five key areas of concern expressed by the public during a lengthy consultation exercise carried out in the borough on behalf of the Community Safety Partnership.

Members of the authority's executive will be told tonight that an application has been made to extend the deadline for the new strategy because the resources of the community safety team have been stretched.

The partnership, which has been allocated £15,000 from the borough's crime reducation unit along with a further £2,000 from Lancashire County Council, has been heavily involved in the work of the taskforce set up to investigate last summer's serious racially motivated disturbances.

Public protection and community safety officer Melva Burton is planning to tell the council executive: "The production of the strategy along with other pieces of work including the best value review of community safety has been delayed.

"We are in negotiation with the crime director at Government Office North West for an extension to the timetable to ensure a full consultation with service unit managers and the public."

She will add: "We have not yet had a decision on the matter."

The executive will be asked to approve a timetable providing a strategy by the end of March with circulation in the borough in April and action plans for each of the key issues in mid-April.

It is recommended that the chief executive should be given delegated authority to approve the final strategy in mid-March.