POLICE have declared war on car crime - thanks to the support of local businesses.

In the last year an anti car crime strategy, called Operation Nitro, has yielded up to a sixth of the total arrests across Vale Royal and Congleton.

And thanks to a donation of £500 from the Business After Hours group, police were able to invest in specialised equipment and now aim to launch a Vehicle Crime Unit.

Detective Chief Inspector Alec Johns said: "We are making a concerted effort which will have an impact on vehicle crime region-wide."

As a result of the funding and the force's success, a Vehicle Crime Unit is to be set up in the New Year with 12 officers based in Middlewich.

Following the current strategy, the unit will continue to concentrate on car-stop checks, car damage, car theft and thefts from cars, as well as uncovering a variety of other offences during their investigations.

Sergeant Stewart Sheer, who set up the strategy and will head the unit, said: "As a result of the strategy, two officers have been put forward for commendations after they made 200 arrests for car crimes and other connected offences in the last year."

Chairman of the Northwich-based Business After Hours group, Mike Worthington, added: "We are always looking for ways to work with the community and this was an ideal opportunity to help fight crime."