CRIMEfighters are going back to school in an unusual attempt to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Redcar and Cleveland Community Safety Partnership has launched several schemes in recent months specifically designed to educate trouble-makers.

Now the group is taking the education theme further by targeting about 11,000 students in schools across the borough.

Thousands of rulers, bearing the slogan, "Only thugs act likes mugs", will be handed out to schools including Bydales, in Marske, Gilbrook, in Eston, Huntcliff, in Saltburn, and Nunthorpe, in Middlesbrough.

The logo, designed by a student at Eotas (Education Other Than At School), in Eston, is designed to show the effect of anti-social behaviour on other people's lives.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's education department will help distribute the rulers and devise lessons that will incorporate the use of the crimefighting slogan.

Cleveland Police Authority has recently produced a strategy for reducing anti-social behaviour throughout the force area and this new initiative, to educate every senior school pupil in the area, coincides with the plans.

Chief Superintendent Dee Collins, who chairs the Community Safety Partnership, said it was an innovative way of educating children.

She said: "Raising awareness with children is the key to long term improvement in communities.

"I hope that this simple message, which youngsters will see everyday as they go about their school work, will drive the message home - particularly to that small section who cause trouble.

"Their actions affect a great many people and if they take on board good citizenship, it will have a huge beneficial effect on all of our communities in Redcar and Cleveland."

Ruth Headdon, headteacher at Huntcliff School, is backing the scheme. She said: "We already have a good relationship with the police and this wide-ranging target of thousands of pupils will be a great extension of that partnership.

"I think it is a positive way to target pupils in a school environment - using education to promote a crime-free community."

Councillor Joyce Benbow, cabinet member for community safety, added: "If 11,000 young people can get the message, that's going to be a terrific force for good behaviour."