Junior crimefighter Nikki Blenkinsopp won the praise of the Home Secretary yesterday after becoming Britain's youngest Neighbourhood Watch leader.

Nikki, 12, has helped slash crime on the run-down estate.

The youngster endures the taunts of classmates and risks the wrath of local criminals as he wages a campaign to clean up the streets in Southwick, Sunderland.

He has helped catch criminals - including an arsonist who torched an empty house and theives who were breaking into cars near Sunderland FC's Stadium of Light.

Nikki is co-ordinator for three streets around his home and people who are too afraid to inform police themselves come to him to do it for them.

While his pals are out playing football, Nikki walks the streets with a notebook taking down details of any suspicious incidents he sees.

Working with his neighbours and estate beat bobbies he has become the driving force behind a successful campaign to reduce crime on the estate.

He and his neighbour Rosalind Copeland arrange the Neighbourhood Watch meetings and Nikki recruits new members by going door to door.

His public-spirited attitude was praised by Home Office, police and Neighbourhood Watch chiefs.

Last week he recieved a standing ovation from 200 police chiefs and council officials when he spoke at a conference of the Police Beat Managers scheme about the value of the Neighbourhood Watch.

Home Secretary David Blunkett 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 said: "It makes me really angry when I see someone trying to break into a car, steal from a shop or daub graffiti on property because it ruins the community.

"Some of my mates say I'm a grass because I help the police by reporting crimes, but I don't care what they think.

"I'm just doing what's best for my neighbours, friends and family and I won't be put off."

Nikki lives with his grandmother Maureen Blenkinsopp, 60.

She said: "Nikki has grown up with crime and vandalism all around him and he saw the misery it was causing.

"His friends and neighbours have all suffered from having their houses broken into and their cars stolen.

"He is a caring kid and he just wanted to do something to help."

Nikki dreams that one day he'll slap handcuffs on criminals for real - he wants to join the police force when he leaves school.