Criminals are being warned to stay away from Kendal after it received a national award in recognition of crime prevention and reduction measures in the town.

After 12 months of hard work from all those involved, Kendal became one of only 200 towns nationwide to receive the Safe Business Award. It means Kendal is a safe place to shop, to live and to work.

The Kendal Business Against Crime Partnership involving the police, local authorities, Kendal Town Council and retailers, has been running for a year and has pulled together all the town's various crime prevention measures.

Measures to combat crime in the town include a retail exclusion zone, shopwatch, the town's CCTV system and barwatch for the pubs and clubs.

One of the most useful tools is the Apex radio system that allows retailers and the police to keep in contact and warn each other of people acting suspiciously.

Since the scheme has been in place, the town centre has seen a reduction in crime. Anti-social and rowdy behaviour has dropped by 24 per cent while major crime, including burglary and theft, has dropped by eight per cent.

Business crime manager Mark Price said the award also brought in other benefits including a link up with other "safe" towns. The recognition would also be included on tourist information literature to get the message out to the whole nation that Kendal was a safe place.

Kendal Police's crime prevention officer Terry Belshaw dispelled concerns that the number of crime schemes in place could create a fear of crime.

He said that Kendal had a low level of crime and, by putting the initiatives in place, it would reduce that level even further.

Westmorland Shopping Centre's assistant manager Alan Green said the combined use of CCTV along with the radio link and other measures has led to numerous successes in identifying potential offenders, known offenders and preventing criminal action.

Peter Boyd, manager at Elephant Yard and also chairman of KBAC, said the scheme had given shops a lot more confidence.

A representative from the Home Office will officially present the award at a ceremony in the New Year.