PUB landlords across a North Yorkshire district are being urged to make their car parks safer places in an effort to cut crime.

Community safety officers have been visiting licensees in Ryedale to give out the message that safer car parks outside the pubs mean customers inside can enjoy their night.

Sergeant Cliff Edens, of Malton Police, said: "We are working with our licensing officer, John Tugwell, in trying to encourage licensees to make their car parks more secure. We have had a spate of break-ins to cars, although in comparison to the number of people who visit it is not a lot.

"However, it is still unpleasant for those people it happens to."

A car left outside the Forest and Vale in Pickering for only two hours had a window smashed last Thursday evening, although nothing was taken and the thieves may have been disturbed.

Sgt Edens said landlords at pubs right across Ryedale would be advised on how to make their car parks less attractive to thieves.

"Monitoring the car park more regularly could act as a deterrent, along with putting signs up advertising the fact," he said.

Well-lit car parks were also less attractive to would-be thieves, he said.

Money used to drive the campaign is expected to come out of a central government pot of £3,000 earmarked for community safety initiatives.

Updated: 11:07 Monday, November 11, 2002