A POLICEMAN who has replaced crime with football is in line for a national award.

PC Calvin Skinner has brought down crime figures on his Coundon beat, near Bishop Auckland, with a mixture of straightforward policing and the unifying game of football.

Over the last two summers he has arranged for coaches from Newcastle United's Football in the Community Scheme to train youngsters in the village.

This year he also enlisted the help of Newcastle Falcons A-team player Danny Brown to help with rugby coaching.

The dedicated PC raised £1,500 for the coaching sessions, which over the long summer holidays kept youngsters off the streets and crime figures down.

His efforts have earned him the title of Durham Constabulary's Beat Officer of the Year.

He will travel to London later this year to compete for the national title.