A POLICE officer pounding the beat in Bosnia is hoping to set up pen pal links between youngsters in Sarajevo and his home town in the North-East.

PC Barry Dixon is one of 32 British bobbies who flew out for a 12-month tour of duty, swapping his traditional helmet for a black beret and the force crest for a UK police badge.

Stockton schools liaison officer PC Jeff Vowles said they aim to set up an e-mail link between two schools in the town and two in Sarajevo to allow pupils to exchange letters and photographs.

"The pen-pal link is a great idea and one that will be educational to youngsters both here and in Bosnia, but unfortunately the schools in Sarajevo have not got the equipment," said PC Vowles.

"We are now looking around to try and get the computers, or the money to buy them, ourselves. We have made approaches to various organisations but so far, have drawn a blank.

PC Dixon is organising some charity events in the Balkans and by working with PC Vowles they hope to have a scheme up and running later this year to raise cash.

PC Vowles said: "It is an unusual initiative but it will be great to raise the awareness of the children in Stockton and let them know what is going on in another part of the world."