PEOPLE living in isolated areas are being urged to join a police scheme to help prevent rural crime.

North Yorkshire Police are asking for volunteers to sign up to their Country Watch scheme, which aims to protect properties and prevent poaching.

The scheme incorporates the existing Ringmaster service- a two-way communication link between farmers and the police warning of any suspicious activity, recently extended to include an instant text messaging system.

Volunteers are also needed to go out on patrol with the police to look for signs of illegal or anti-social activity and to provide a high visibility deterrent to would-be trouble-makers.

New Country Watch signs have been designed for all participants to display in their homes as a warning to potential criminals.

PC Mark Atkinson of the Easingwold Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "We want to encourage as many people as possible to sign up to Ringmaster and also get as many Country Watch signs up as we can.

"We are aware that many of the criminals operating in our rural communities are not from the area and we need to let them know that we are watching them."

Anyone wishing to sign up to Country Watch or any existing members interested in obtaining Country Watch signs can call into their local police station or contact 0845 60 60 24 7 and ask for their local Safer Neighbourhood Team.