A "BOWES Buddies" scheme is to be launched by the Bowes museum to help combat vandalism in the grounds.

The initiative aims to establish a link with children who play in, and sometimes vandalise, the Barnard Castle museum's park. It is being taken forward by the museum's audience development manager, Dr Anne Allen, and education officer, Lisa Jeffries, following an approach from the police.

A working party, which will include Sgt Mick Hutchinson and youth liaison officer PC Steve Bunker from Durham Constabulary's community liaison department, will be set up next month with the idea of targeting primary age children at schools in Barnard Castle.

Among the ideas already mooted is the forming of a Bowes Buddies club to give children a feeling of ownership of the park, which in parts is thickly wooded and an ideal playground, with a view to looking after and maintaining it.

Dr Allen told the D&S Times that the idea was very much at the "brainstorming" stage yet, with funding to be put in place. But she felt that anything that stopped vandalism could only save money in the long run.

Just last week, at a meeting of the crime prevention panel, members heard how cars parked at the museum had been shaken to set off alarms to disturb the Castle Players' open air performances, branches had been broken off trees and abuse hurled at the adjacent Barnard Castle school. There was also a constant problem of litter dropped in the fountains.

Dr Allen hopes to begin by getting the youngsters involved in fixing the fountains and possibly building an adventure playground, but stressed that any project would be led by the children.

PC Bunker echoed her thoughts. Liaison officers familiar to children in Barnard Castle schools would bring up the idea in the near future.

"It is in the early stages at the moment, but we are looking forward to getting them involved," he added.

Rewards in the form of Bowes Buddies' baseball caps and T-shirts will be on offer for tasks accomplished, with the possibility of youngsters picking their own rewards, such as day trips, if the scheme takes off.

l See page 7.