KNOWN criminals may not be at the top of most people's Christmas card list but offenders in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale have become an exception.

They are not only receiving festive greetings from police in the Pennine Division but are having their cards hand delivered.

The scheme is part of a Christmas crackdown on crime .

Around 100 cards, which include a warning that officers will be thinking of them over the festive period, are currently being delivered across the division.

Superintendent Gary Stephenson said: "We want criminals to know that we are cracking down and, given the time of the year, we thought a Christmas card would be a great way to do it.

"We are committed to combating crime. We want to transfer the fear of crime away from the victim and back to those who commit it. We want to raise the risk of offenders being caught and in doing so ensure that Pennine Division is a safer place in which to live and work."

This year will be the second year the police have delivered Christmas cards to criminals and following on from the success of the first year, the police are hoping the cards will make them think twice about offending.

Sgt Stan Heaton said: "We do know it unsettled the criminals last year because some went to solicitors to ask what the warning meant.

"If they are concerned enough to do that they are aware that Big Brother is watching them.

"If they think they are being targeted, which they are, it makes them less likely to commit crimes."