BURY'S pioneering Community Safety Warden project is going from strength to strength.

And to prove it, the latest recruits to have successfully completed an induction course were congratulated by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bury, Councillor Bill Johnson and his wife Joyce. The wardens now face life on the streets of the town for the next twelve months.

The new intake brings the total number of wardens employed since the scheme began at the end of 1998 to 52.

Armed with local knowledge and first aid skills, the recruits will work alongside the eight existing CS wardens patrolling town centres throughout the borough.

Their jobs include welcoming visitors to the borough and reporting and dealing with a whole host of local authority and crime related problems as they arise.

CSW manager Mr Ged McGee said: "The new intake are a welcome boost to the Community Safety Warden Programme which is going from strength to strength.

"The ten have successfully completed their five-week induction course and will now put their new-found skills to the test around the borough."

Bury, which was home to the founder of the modern day police force, Sir Robert Peel, pioneered the Community Warden Scheme which has been adopted by a large number of councils and organisations throughout the country.

Within the next two years, it is envisaged that there will be between 8,000 and 10,000 community safety wardens operating nationwide.