POLICE were joined by almost 100 volunteers in a joint cross-border operation designed to shut the gate on rural crime.

North Yorkshire officers from the Richmoind and Hambleton Safer Neighbourhood Command were joiuned by colleagues from the County Durham and Cumnbria forces.

Assisted by nearly 100 volunteers from watch schemes in the area, they carried out the operation overnight and covered an area of around 1,800 square miles.

A total of 59 people and vehicles were stopped - 32 in Durham, 25 in Cumbria and 11 in North Yorkshire - and in Richmondshire there were no crimes reported while the operation was running.

Two cars were seized - the first in Wensleydale, where the driver was arrested on suspicion of drugs offences. The car also contained power tools which officers believe are stolen.

The second car was stopped in the West Auckland area of Durham for having no insurance. The driver was arrested for drugs offences.

Sgt Chris Knox, of Barnard Castle police said: "In terms of closing the gate on criminals committing offences in rural areas I believe this operation has been a great success."

Sergeant Stuart Grainger, of Leyburn, thanked the watch volunteers who took part.

“Without their willingness to give up their spare time and using their local knowledge, it would not have been possible to cover such a wide area,” he said.

He added: "As a result of the vital funding the Daleswatch and Borderwatch schemes receive from the Richmond Community Safety Partnership they are continuing to grow in strength.

“This means as well as new members joining existing watch groups, new groups covering other areas of the district are being established.

"The extra schemes mean that this operation is only the first of many that we will be able to run through the rest of 2012."