Three 18-year-olds have been charged with a string of offences after being caught trying to steal car keys through people's letter boxes using a litter picker.

Craig Martin, Joshua Cass and Oscar Ramsbottom, were arrested around midnight on Monday after police followed a car they were travelling in from Haslingden into Rawtenstall.

A spokesperson for the police said: "Amongst items in the vehicle were two litter pickers which we believe were to be used to grab car keys through people's letter boxes in what we call a 'hook and cane offence'.

"A reminder for all within Rossendale that despite the ongoing Covid measures there are still criminals out there and you can prevent a crime by doing something as simple as hiding your car keys away at night and never ever having them around the doors to your home."

The teenagers, all from Greater Manchester have now been charged with going equipped to steal, amongst other offences.