A 12-year-old boy whose crimefighting efforts earned the praise of Home Secretary David Blunkett may now quit after his home was targeted by thugs.

Nikki Blenkinsopp is Britain's youngest Neighbourhood Watch leader and was given a standing ovation at a conference attended by 200 police chiefs after he spoke of the scheme's value.

Now he fears hooligans in the Southwick area of Sunderland have launched a vendetta against him.

On Wednesday night, yobs gathered outside the house where Nikki lives with his grandmother.

After yelling threats and abuse, they threw a brick through the window of neighbour Rosalind Copeland, who helps run the Neighbourhood Watch scheme.

He has already helped catch an arsonist and thieves who broke into cars near Sunderland FC's Stadium of Light.

He began going door to door with leaflets urging people to join Neighbourhood Watch and patrolled the streets.

As he became known in the area, people too afraid to talk to police began using him as a go-between.

When Nikki's work was brought to the attention of Mr Blunkett, he said: "Local people have an important part to play in the fight against crime. It sounds as though Nikki is setting a very good example."

Nikki has reported dozens of crimes and collected signatures for a petition calling for better street lighting.

Now he and Mrs Copeland, 57, are living in fear. She said: "All we were doing was trying to make Southwick a better place and this is what happens. I have to wonder whether it is worth it."

"Nikki is a lovely lad and between us we have tried to do something good for this community."

Nikki and his grandmother Maureen Blenkinsopp, 60, were too shaken to speak about the incident.

But he was last night thought to be considering whether to carry on with his Neighbourhood Watch duties.

Last night, a Home Office spokeswoman said Mr Blunkett's comments had not been a personal endorsement of Nikki and added that the attack was not something the Home Secretary would discuss.

She said: "It is first and foremost a matter for the police. Obviously this sort of behaviour is what we are determined to crack down on."

* Three people have been arrested in connection with causing criminal damage.