POLICE have teamed up with pubs and nightclubs in a bid to slash the number of rapes among Burnley’s late-night revellers.

The town has been chosen to pilot a new project aimed at young drinkers in the run up to Christmas.

Operation Focus bids to raise awareness over allegations of rape after excessive alcohol when consent becomes an issue.

As part of the month-long campaign, which begins on December 1, around 25 pubs, bars and nightclubs in Burnley and Padiham will be given specially-made films to show on big screens featuring a teenage reveller who is raped after a night of drinking.

Det Insp Sion Hall, from Burnley CID, said: “The campaign is based around a lot of work that is ongoing and I am quite pleased that we are doing it around Christmas time.

“I volunteered to pilot the project in Burnley and it’s probably a good time because there will be more people out getting drunk, although the initiative is not in relation to any particular problem with alcohol-induced rape that we have in the town or in Lancashire.”

Statistics show that 105 complaints of sexual offences were made in Burnley and Padiham in the last year, of which 27 were reports of rape.

However, police chiefs insist all cases are being dealt with, no suspects are being sought and Government figures show Lancashire has an above-average rape conviction rate.

Operation Focus, which is backed by NHS East Lancashire and Burnley Council, will also see colleges involved in a bid to spread the word among younger drinkers.

And officers will target revellers aged 16 to 35 in Burnley town centre by sending out campaign text messages via Bluetooth reminding them how alcohol can blur the lines between rape and consensual sex.

Mr Hall added: “This is not about a specific problem in Burnley - it is about one offence being one too many.

“The message is if there’s no consent, there should be no sex.

“What we are saying for both men and women is that they shouldn’t get into that position. It’s about looking after your mates.”

Insp Martin Melvin, from Burnley police, said: “Avoiding this situation is about having your mobile phone switched on and getting home safely.

“It’s Christmas time and we are not party poopers but people should be safe.”

The operation, which runs until January 2, could then be rolled out county-wide.