POLICE and volunteers from across the region have taken part in the biggest Farmwatch event.

Four police forces from Durham, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Northumbria were joined by 95 volunteers in patrolling an area of 1,800 square miles.

In Teesdale, where Farmwatch started in 1989, the patrol formed part of Operation Ceramic, a wide- scale crackdown on rural crime.

Farmwatch involves volunteers, many of whom own farms that are targeted by criminals, being placed at strategic positions in the area through the course of an evening.

Armed with radios and a list of suspect cars, the volunteers act as eyes for the police, who respond to any information.

The latest operation involved more police forces than ever before, meaning would-be criminals leaving or entering an area could be tracked across the region.

Sergeant Allan Harder, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "We do get a lot of travelling criminals coming into our area. Working with other police forces, such as Durham, means we can share information, and has led to some really positive results."

Phil Barber, secretary of the National Farmers' Union, in Teesdale, said: "Farmwatch has gone from strength to strength over the past few years. It has also given rural farmers confidence that their property is going to be safe."

Sergeant Ed Turner, of Durham Police, has been heavily involved in setting up the latest Farmwatch.

He said: "One of the big things that has helped us in the battle against rural crime is Smartwater, which we are giving to farmers in the area, so we now have a blanket coverage.

"That means that if we stop a vehicle that has goods we believe are stolen, we have officers with ultra violet lights that can check to see if they have been painted with Smartwater."

Farmwatch in Teesdale was set up 17 years ago in the small village of Kinninvie by Peter Stubbs, and has since gone on to be replicated nationwide.

Mr Stubbs said: "I never anticipated it would have expanded the way it has, now there are Farmwatches all over the country.

"We've all got radios now, which has made the whole operation much more effective in terms of communication. The police have done everything they can to help us and have always been so co-operative."

Following the operation, which finished in the early hours of Friday morning, Sgt Turner said: "More than 40 vehicles were stopped by police, many of which were pulled over as a result of the volunteers' information.

"Although no arrests were made, many of the vehicles we pulled over were known to the police and may well have gone on to commit a crime were it not for our intervention.

"It also sent out the message that rural communities are certainly not a soft touch, and we are keen to do it again soon."