A FOOTBALL club has become the first in the country to be awarded secured car park status.

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Sean Price presented the award to Hartlepool United Football Club for its facilities at Victoria Park.

The Secured Car Parks scheme is an initiative by the Association of Chief Police Officers to encourage those responsible for car parks to improve security standards as a way of reducing criminal activity, the fear of crime and the perception of crime.

The scheme is supported by the Home Office and is administered by the British Parking Association.

The award followed a formal inspection by Cleveland of measures employed at the club, which have been sponsored by Expamet Security Products.

Ian Macrae, from the club, said: "Hartlepool United is delighted to be receiving this award, and we thank Expamet for their continued commitment to helping the club.

"We are very proud to be the first football club in the UK to get this award, showing that we take the issue of safety very seriously."