LANCASHIRE'S former top police officer and the country's first woman chief constable has urged East Lancashire businesswomen to aim for success.

Pauline Clare worked for Lancashire Constabulary for 36 years and held the top post of chief constable from 1995 to 2002.

Since her retirement from the force she has worked in coaching and leadership development for businesspeople.

She is also a director of the Chorley Building Society and the Urban Regeneration Company, Blackpool.

Now Mrs Clare is investigating good business practice and was invited to be guest speaker at the annual conference of Unique, a group set up to represent businesswomen in East Lancashire.

During the talk, held at Ewood Park, Mrs Clare spoke of her past in the police force, and gave advice to women.

Mrs Clare, who lives in West Lancashire, said: "Business work is different, but then having said that there are some skills that you bring with you particularly in relation to the Urban Regeneration Company, and I am used to managing staff.

"Women must believe that they have got the ability to do whatever it is that they want to do. There is no reason why anyone shouldn't be successful in business."