A NEIGHBOURHOOD watch scheme, which will protect rural areas, is to be set up in County Durham.

The scheme will cover a 60-square mile area with a population of up to 5,000 people to the west of Darlington, and will be run and staffed by the rural community.

Farmers and people living in isolated areas have been suffering an increase in crime in recent years, especially by burglars and poachers, during which time police officers have been recalled from countryside patrols to protect more urban areas.

The new watch area covers Low Coniscliffe, Piercebridge, Royal Oak, Redworth and Branksome, in Darlington. It includes 14 villages and settlements. The area already has four separate village watch schemes and this will link up the rural areas in between.

Jacqui Snowball, neighbourhood watch liaison officer at Darlington Police, said: "This is a really good thing. We need community eyes and ears, or we don't know what is going on out there."

She urged people living in and around the new watch area to contact her and get involved.

When the scheme is established, it will help close one of the last remaining gaps in the Darlington area, which is not already covered by a neighbourhoood watch scheme.

"Criminals do not turn round at boundaries and we need a good network of watch areas across rural areas. This is a team sport, and we need a good team to succeed," said Mrs Snowball.

PC Julian Brown, beat officer for the new watch area, has been working towards setting up the scheme for several years.

He said: "The general trend over the past ten years has been for criminals to get transport and get out to rural areas because they perceive the police presence will be more sparse."

He said he was optimistic that the scheme would be a success.

There are 1,200 regional members of watch schemes in the borough of Darlington, including 90 rural members.

For more information about the scheme and to attend future meetings, call Mrs Snowball on (01325) 346832.