The impact of a six-figure project to make Barrow's streets safer is still being assessed, a year after the funding was secured.

Twelve months ago Barrow was earmarked for £436,994 from the Government to tackle crime.

The funds were to be used to tackle the Salthouse Road area in the town, which was identified at the time as a hotspot for criminal activity.

One year on from that decision, and four months since the work concluded, a spokesperson for Cumbria police said it was 'too early' to assess how successful the project had been.

They said: “The initiative for the first round of Safer Streets Funding was delivered in the Salthouse Road area in Barrow with the work concluding in April.

"While we are closely monitoring the situation, it is too early to have any feedback on the success of the project.

"We currently only have anecdotal evidence and will be looking at specific data after six months from completion.

“We are firmly committed to the Government’s Safer Streets projects and have recently applied for round three of funding in the west of Cumbria with the aim of improving safety for women and girls and are looking at an application for round four over the next few months.”

The Safer Streets Fund enables police and crime commissioners and local authorities in England and Wales, and the British Transport Police, to bid for investment into innovative as well as traditional interventions to improve the safety of public places and the upgrade of existing street lighting.

In October, residents were asked to complete a crime and anti-social behaviour survey with the result showing a need for better lighting and more CCTV.

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, said: “This is a really valuable scheme which has a very positive impact in the communities where the money and activity is focused. I was very happy to support the bid for Safer Streets funding in Barrow and would definitely do so again, reassuring local residents and cutting down on crime and anti-social behaviour.”

The date for the next round has not yet been announced.