A VIRTUAL reality house is offering people information on how to secure their home, garage and garden against burglars.

The crime prevention advice is now available on the Durham Constabulary website.

An interactive display shows a cartoon-style house with tips and advice on protecting the home through the eyes of a police officer and a burglar.

A quiz is also available so callers to the site can test their prevention knowledge.

Advice ranges from security lighting and the best plants to use as a defence around garden perimeters to how to tackjle bogus callers and specifications for locks and hinges on shed doors.

Community safety Sergeant Brad Howe said: "These days, when everyone leads busy lives and many work long hours, there isn't always time for people to give consideration to home security in the way they should.

"We believe that by making this advice readily available on the website we can reach a much greater number of people who will benefit in the long term.

"The interactive display with its cartoon characters is very user-friendly and people can choose the part of security they want details on without having to wade through lots of information.

"In line with the force's winter community safety campaign Operation Darc, the aim of online advice is to reduce burglaries by raising awareness within our communities of the benefits of improved home security, thereby making properties less attractive to criminals."

The house was designed by Fusebox Design, in Newcastle and can be accessed from the site's home page on www.durham.police.u