BURY town centre's new community safety wardens have been hailed as a huge success.

Scheme leaders say that the first batch of recruits have had a dramatic impact on crime, vandalism, safety and even the environment during the first three months on their "beat".

Local police have congratulated the wardens for their part in February in capturing a shop-lifting team responsible for stealing more than over £3,500 worth of goods from local stores.

They say the yellow-and-grey-clad wardens have played their part on a range of fronts as they patrol the town centre.

Reported crime in Bury town centre during December 1998 dropped by 20 per cent compared to the previous December, and the town's market enjoyed its first ever crime-free week.

The wardens have been busy keeping cyclists and illegal traders alike off the streets, reporting faulty lights, overflowing bins, rubbish and uneven pavements which leads to quicker repairs and a tidier town centre. Mr Ged McGee, wardens project manager, said: "We envisaged that the wardens would make a significant impact but I don't think anyone realised just how far-reaching this would be.

"We now regularly carry out school-time patrols to keep an eye on youngsters as they catch their buses home. This has meant pupils have extra protection from strangers and it has also helped with problems between the children themselves, such as bullying."

He added: "We are really pleased with the way the first three months have gone and we believe that our scheme, which is a pilot one nationwide, will be taken up by others when they realise how effective it can be."

The initial group of eight wardens were all recruited from the dole and trained for the role. The scheme is funded by Single Regeneration Budget cash and by the European Social Fund.

Council leader Derek Boden said: "Because of the softly, softly approach that our wardens have adopted, I don't think many people realise just how effective and wide-ranging their efforts are.

"We believe this scheme will go from strength to strength and we are looking at extending it into other areas."

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