POLICE in Rossendale are turning to horse power in a bid to cut crime during the festive period.

The move has been welcomed by traders in the area who have already seen a drop in crime thanks to their additional presence.

Police have hopped on horseback to keep a watchful eye on town centres as part of the Safer Streets campaign to deter criminal activity.

The high visibility initiative has been running for just four days and hopes to combat crime at every level.

The mounted police officers can be seen for six hours each day patrolling Rossendale's town centres.

They move between Bacup, Stacksteads and other areas each day.

Inspector Roger Ravenscroft said: "A number of officers on horseback have been tasked with providing high visibility police presence on the streets this Christmas.

"The move aims to provide added reassurance to shoppers and businesses in the area.

"Being on horseback, officers have a greater view of what's going on. Even though it has only been running a couple of days we are already seeing signs that it is going to be a success in helping to drive down crime."

Christmas shoppers and businesses in the Bacup area have already gained reassurances from the mounted police who are regularly patrolling the streets.

Carmel Coaker, owner of Bacup News in St James Street, said: "It's superb. Christmas is unfortunately a time of year when we get a lot of shoplifters and yobs coming into the shop.

"The high-profile policing has had a huge impact on helping to deter criminals and yobs from the shop.

"Friday and Saturday was particularly impressive, there were lots of bobbies walking the streets as well as those on horseback, which was very reassuring.

"The police should be praised for their hard work because they are trying to make the best of difficult circumstances."