A RISE in vandalism, arson attacks and theft is set to force housing chiefs to spend £350,000 on buying and fitting alarms in empty council houses.

Firefighters have complained about youths on Roman Road estate, Blackburn, putting lives at risk by setting fire to empty properties already fitted with security screens.

An increase in the number of council flats and houses left empty has also helped to escalate the problem.

Town hall chiefs say that in some areas of Blackburn with Darwen it is even unsafe to leave central heating systems in vacant properties.

A trial system has been tested in Darwen, where the latest alarm systems have been installed in a bid to deter burglars and vandals.

Following the success of the project, Blackburn with Darwen Council look set to invest £350,000 on extending the project.

Portable alarms in about 250 empty houses will be connected to a call centre which will be manned 24 hours a day. Callers will then be able to despatch the police to any properties which have been broken into.

The new executive committee of the council discussed the issue when it met for the first time on Tuesday.

If the scheme gets the go-ahead, companies will be able to bid for the contract to run the scheme, but 50 new alarms have already been earmarked for the Shadsworth and Highercroft estates.

Extra cash will also be spent on more security screens for the ever-growing number of empty council houses in the borough.