RESIDENTS are to be asked for their thoughts on issues of crime and disorder as part of an audit being organised by the Safer Ryedale Partnership.

A series of surveys will be carried out in communities across the district over the next few weeks by the crime-busting partnership.

Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators will stop shoppers and ask them a few questions about their perception of crime in the area they live in.

Safer Ryedale co-ordinator Ana Richards said: "The message has been going out over recent months that our district and our communities enjoys low levels of crime compared to most other parts of the country, but that is not always what people really sense about where they live.

"We hope that people will highlight the problems in their village or street so we have a more informed idea of what they want to see done to improve their quality of life in their communities."