BARNOLDSWICK Bands on the Square (BOTS) music event this year was a crime free zone heard West Craven councillors.

Pc Matt Lunney, neighbourhood policing officer, told the area meeting of Pendle Council in Salterforth on Tuesday that there had been 'zero arrests, zero fixed penalties and zero crime' during the four day annual bank holiday event at the end of May which enjoyed perfect weather and saw thousands of people descend on the town square.

Pc Lunney, who also performed at the event as 'Matt and Co' with PCSP Neil Wallin on drums, said unusually for a public event there had been no issues and he praised organisers, made up of volunteers and Barnoldswick Town Council.

He said extra staff had been deployed at off-licences in the town following his advice, and everyone had been very polite and well behaved.

"From a policing point of view, it was a really nice event. We have been critical in the past, but to see no arrests is very unusual for a public event like this," he said.