HOME Secretary Charles Clarke told Hyndburn Council it is to blame for not having enough money to keep the borough's community wardens scheme running.

Mr Clarke pledged to help councils keep the wardens going if they could prove they had acted responsibly by keeping money aside for them.

The wardens face the axe because the three-year government grant to employ them has come to an end.

Mr Clarke, who was at Accrington's Globe Centre on a visit yesterday, said: "Hyndburn Council knew this when they first received the money and the idea was that the savings the council incurred as a result of the wardens' work would fund them in the future.

"We are prepared to help councils with transitional difficulties but those authorities have had to have acted responsibly and saved the money to keep the wardens."

But Tory council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "Government is constantly making extra demands but not delivering the money. Perhaps he can show us where the savings are supposed to have occurred."

The community wardens scheme was launched in 2001 to reduce anti-social behaviour.