CHILDREN are taking part in a pilot scheme to encourage them to become the Neighbourhood Watch of the future.

Up to 40 pupils from year six at Wingate Primary School, in County Durham, are embarking on a seven week programme of activities.

They cover a range of personal and home safety issues, culminating in a full day’s role playing and re-enactment at ‘SafetyWorks’ in Newcastle.

The pilot is being organised by Inspector George Osborne, Durham Constabulary’s Neighbourhood Watch manager, and Simon Sayle, a community volunteer, who runs a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in Wingate.

Insp Osborne said: "We’ll all be going into the school over the first six weeks, running sessions on particular aspects of personal and community safety.

"Then in week seven the pupils get the chance to put what they’ve learned into practice.

"We hope that if they start thinking about these issues at primary school, they will be more likely to get involved in the Safer Schools programme when they get to secondary school.

"We want them to be the new generation of Neighbourhood Watch."

A range of other agencies are taking part, including British Transport Police, Fire and Ambulance services, Durham County Council, the Durham Agency Against Crime (DAAC), the RNLI and the RSPCA.

Simon Sayle said: "I am delighted to be helping the police to promote Neighbourhood Watch amongst young people in the heart of my community."

If the pilot is a success, the plan is to extend it to up to 20 other schools and managed by DAAC.