Shops in Barnoldswick are set to benefit from a security boost following a partnership approach to protecting the town.

A £6,000 project will see cutting edge DNA marking introduced and the town’s shop radio scheme expanded.

Traders launched the scheme on Tuesday with West Craven Area Committee and community safety partnership chairman, Coun David Whipp.

Coun Whipp said: “We have taken a partnership approach to making Barnoldswick safer by improving the security of retail businesses. This follows a spate of shop burglaries last year.

“The town’s Chamber of Trade, Pendle Council’s area committee and community safety partnership have each contributed £2,000, with Barnoldswick Town Council co-ordinating the project and Lancashire Police implementing it.

“Selecta DNA marking kits have been bought and are being used to protect business properties. Shop radios have been bought with the rest of the money. These link traders with each other and with the police.

“This security scheme helps make Barnoldswick safer and keeps it a low crime area.”

Chamber of Trade chairman, Richard Milner, owner of Chubby’s Chippy, said: “Every-one has got together and we’ve come up with an effective response to people who threaten our businesses and our town.”

PC Matt Lunney said: “It’s another link in our armour. This scheme says to criminals ‘we’ll be looking for you’.

n Four people have been arrested on conspiracy charges in connection with a spate of burglaries committed in Barnoldswick last year.

Two men and two women from Bacup were arrested last Wednesday and charged with conspiracy to commit a burglary with intent to steal following a three-month investigation into break-ins committed in Barnoldswick between March 1 and October 31 last year.

David Driver, 37, and Donna Stott, 25, both of Farholme Lane, Bacup, and Ryan Raby, 30, and Ashleigh Fell, 27, both of Prince Street, Bacup, made an initial appearance before Burnley Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.