HOW do you stamp out crime in your community? Get off your behind and do something about it. The mere male who had the temerity to say that to Dorothy Bowman probably had no idea how literally she would take the chance comment.

In the past year she has founded the Dales Neighbourhood Watch and residents' association, set up a junior branch, bought a minibus to take youngsters on outings and raised cash for the Friends of Senior Citizens.

Her commitment to improving the Dales estate in Newton Aycliffe has also seen her highly commended in the outstanding achievement category of the Norwich Union national neighbourhood watch awards.

But anyone who knows her background will not be surprised at anything the mother of three and grandmother of two can achieve.

Brought up on a her parents' farms, first at Stainton in Cleveland and later on the outskirts of Middlesbrough, she and her sisters were able to run wild in the fields, fearing nothing.

Her own happy childhood has influenced her determination to improve life for youngsters in an area where drugs and anti-social behaviour are not uncommon.

"Our motto is 'A community of friends is a community at peace'," she said. "Before we set up this association, the people and the children in the area didn't know each other. Now they do, this has brought them together. There was a difference within six weeks."

Her own upbringing has shaped a strong, independent woman who will try anything.

"When I was a teenager I joined the army, the Royal Signals, and became a part-time physical training instructor. I went on to represent the army in athletics and netball."

She left to marry and in the Sixties became one of Darlington's first traffic wardens.

"It was very demanding because the A1 ran through the centre of the town at that time. We used to be very busy.

"But I never had any trouble with the public. You find them all right if you don't try to be above them.

"At the same time my husband and I ran a coal business. I used to go out in the morning, pick the coal up and then go around delivering it."

But the Seventies' miners' strike put paid to that and the small firm turned to haulage instead.

Mrs Bowman became a female trucker and was even featured in the Sunday Telegraph because it was so unusual.

"The men drivers were OK with me. I got some sarcastic comments, but I could change my own tyres and rope and sheet all the loads myself. I have always been independent.

"I used to drive the artic over to Spain, France and Portugal on my own. I thought nothing of crossing the Pyrenees. It was safer generally then and I loved it.

"In the early days I would take plastic pipes down to South Wales and bring steel back and Black and Decker tools over to Barcelona."

She still has her own small business and gets behind the wheel if need be to make deliveries.

"My mother is 87 and still drives her car. I suppose if you sit still you will stagnate."

In 1978, she joined the Friendship Force - an exchange scheme to foster tolerance and understanding set up by US president and recent Nobel peace prize winner Jimmy Carter.

"I was in it for 20 years and have been all over the world - America, Ireland, Japan and Thailand. In Japan I stayed with a young family who had very little English, went to the school, talked to the children. You eat their food and live their lives."

Mrs Bowman also runs a small tour company and is registered with the Northumbrian Tourist Board.

And if that was not enough, she has an internet firm, Move Easy, to take the stress out of moving house.

"People say it is one of the biggest stresses in life. But I think it is a challenge. I have moved about 18 times so I'm a bit of an expert.

"You can go to work as usual. I come in and supervise the removal men, travel with them to your new home and have everything unpacked and in place for your return in the evening. It is something I would love to do for celebrities."

Going back to her crime-busting community work, she was honoured to be asked to go to Redworth Hall this year to meet the Prime Minister.

"Tony Blair had called together the chiefs of police, the NHS and community services. I sat next but one to him at the table. One of the things I said to him was that victims of crime don't get enough help. I don't think sentences fit the crime."

She admires Ray Mallon and his zero tolerance approach to criminals and praises Newton Aycliffe police for all their hard work.

It was at Sedgefield Community Crime Partnership last year that she was provoked into taking action.

"I'm looking forward to seeing that chap and telling him I did exactly what he told me to."