Great Harwood’s police station front counter has been saved from closure.

The station at Hesketh Street had faced losing its front counter as part of a Lancashire-wide cuts by police bosses to save £42m.

The station had originally been earmarked for closure but will instead remain open with reduced opening hours, police bosses have announced.

It means Hyndburn will retain a police base in both Great Harwood and Accrington where the police station also operates a front counter service.

Police are currently exploring options for a new police building in Accrington.

Great Harwood police station’s front counter is currently open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week.

From June next year it will only be open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm and from 3pm to 6pm.

Ward councillor Lynn Wilson said she was delighted that the station would remain open.

She said: "It would have been a big loss if this had gone as we are not just a little village, we are a big town and it seems Hyndburn as a whole has got off pretty lightly.

"We did fear it was the beginning of the end for the service at one point, but it is very well-used.

"I know people say a lot of people email and phone officers, but people like face- to-face contact. I know I certainly do."

The strength of public feeling against the closure of the station was shown when volunteers sent out around 5,000 leaflets in protest of the threatened closure.

Ward councillor Gareth Molineaux added: "Some people have been saying that this was a done deal and that the police station would be closing.

"What this announcement shows is that positive action, hard work and community spirit does pay off, and I know that the people of Great Harwood will appreciate being listened to."

County councillor Ciaran Wells thanked everyone who supported the campaign to keep it open.

He said: "I think it shows the good faith in the police in Lancashire in that they are prepared to listen to what residents think about the service they provide.

"This has been a true consultation and people have let the police know that they really do value this service, which was something we did not want to lose."

While Great Harwood has been saved, the police have axed 14 front counters throughout the county, saving just over £386,000 a year.

Lancashire’s Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said: "We have had to make some very difficult decisions in respect of closing some of our public counters and buildings, we have also been able to keep more than we had hoped for, and the results of the public consultation have certainly helped us to do this."

Malcolm Doherty, chairman of Lancashire Police Authority, said: "We have to bear in mind that it is people, not buildings, who cut crime and we are determined that the community will continue to receive good policing services, despite the financial climate."

n Police chiefs have also confirmed they will move a major investigation unit out of Accrington when the town’s existing station is moved.

The Public Protection Unit will form part of the main investigation unit operating from Greenbank in Blackburn, although it will continue to cover the whole division.

They are currently exploring a number of options for a new police station building in Accrington, saying the existing station is very expensive to maintain.

Following the move, a smaller investigation unit will continue to work out of Accrington, along with neighbourhood policing, response and other back office functions.