A VILLAGE Neighbourhood Watch scheme has proved so successful that it is being used as a model for others.

The Sedgefield Village Neighbourhood and Crimewatch Panel has managed to recruit 95 per cent of villagers as members.

The scheme has seven co-ordinators, but the number will have to be increased because the workload is becoming too heavy. The co-ordinators are supported by street contacts and householders.

The group holds meetings every two months and uses a ring-around system, through which members are kept informed of crime issues by the police.

The model of a village-wide group is one which police hope to repeat elsewhere. Efforts are under way to introduce a town-wide scheme in Ferryhill, and there are plans for one in Newton Aycliffe.

Ken Saiger, chairman of the Sedgefield group, said: "I love my village and my aim is to do anything to help. If a new person comes into the village, the first thing I tell them is to join Neighbourhood Watch, because they will be helping to make it a safer village."

There are plans to widen the scheme to the new housing development at Winterton, and Mr Saiger is particularly keen to involve younger people.

To that end, the Alan Sowerby Memorial Award has been instigated, in memory of the former chairman and driving force behind the group, who died last year.

The award will be presented to the junior citizen of the year at each of the village's two primary schools - Hardwick and Rectory Row - on Wednesday and Thursday.