CRIME in rural areas around Darlington has been slashed by 26 per cent in four years, thanks to more police patrols and Neighbourhood Watch monitoring.

Chief Superintendent Michael Banks, commander of the Darlington division, told a meeting of the Darlington Rural Watch group that the fight to drive down offences would continue.

Darlington Rural Watch (DRW) was established in response to concerns about crimes including trespassing, poaching, drug-taking and theft of farm machinery on farmland surrounding the town.

Since it started, many farms have installed improved security systems, and Darlington Rural Watch members report suspicious incidents to police. People from non-farming families are also part of the group.

Chief Supt Banks said that while a lot of crime-fighting resources were concentrated on urban areas, police had increased patrolling in rural parts of the district as well, responding to the majority of incidents within ten minutes.

He said: "In any place there is the potential for crime and disorder, and also for the fear of crime.

"DRW is a tremendous example of the community leading the way forward. It is important that people are not just safe in the community in which they live, but that they feel safe. We need to take steps to make people feel reassured.

"With the help of bodies like Rural Watch, and the vigilance which its members display, we will get fewer victims of crime. It is a tremendous idea and it is going from strength to strength."

Chief Supt Banks was invited to the meeting to present prizes to winners of a competition to design a logo for the group.

Twin brothers Joseph and Matthew Dent, aged 13, were among those celebrating success.

Joseph, who lives on a dairy farm at Morton Tinmouth, near Darlington, won the junior section.

His design, based on a pair of binoculars, won the overall competition and has now been adopted as the Darlington Rural Watch logo.

Brother Matthew was runner-up in the junior section.

Joseph said: "I had the idea of someone watching, which is where the design came from. It feels good to have won."

Chief Supt Banks said: "To see young people involved is tremendous.

"Young people tend to get a bad Press and I am delighted to see them involved in DRW."

The adult section was won by Vivien Bussey, from the Barnard Castle area, and the runner-up was Sibil Sibthorpe, from Darlington. Darlington Rural Watch chairman Brian Pavey, a gamekeeper, said: "The panel had a difficult task choosing the winners because the standard was so high."

Prizes include pantomime tickets from Darlington Civic Theatre, mobile phones from Vodafone, and gift vouchers from Darlington Police and the Community Safety Unit.