POLICE are hoping to recruit community-minded volunteers to take to the road and join the fight against rural crime.

Bedale’s Safer Neighbourhood Team operates a “mobile watch” scheme, which encourages people using their own vehicles to keep an eye on rural areas, particularly after dark.

Members record any suspicious vehicles they come across and pass the information to the police. If a more urgent response is required, immediate contact with the police can be made using a radio.

All participants sign a Code of Conduct before joining and undergo a short vetting process.

The scheme’s co-ordinator, PCSO Bryan Tongue, said: “The mobile watch scheme currently has six active members, and we’re incredibly grateful for the support and local knowledge that they provide.

“We are now looking for additional members so we can roll the watch out even further.”

To find out more, contact PCSO Tongue by calling 101 and selecting option two or email bryan.tongue@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.