A SCHEME to cut down on rural crime and improve countryside security in the Darlington area is undergoing a name change following a wide range of interest.

The Farmwatch scheme, set up earlier this year for farmers to call each other with information about suspicious people or crimes, is changing its name to Rural Watch following interest from all types of rural businesses and residents.

The National Canine Defence League's rescue centre, in Sadberge, has also joined the scheme after being a victim of rural crime.

Inspector Ian Coates, of Darlington Police, who helped to set up the scheme, said: "The thinking behind changing the name was so people in rural communities who are not farmers can become involved in the scheme."

He said it was working well in the communities it served.

"We are certainly getting a better flow of information about vehicles and sitings of people out in rural areas. It has positive benefits for the rural community and certainly makes people more aware of what is going on," he said.

"If, for example, some farm machinery has been stolen, the thieves might try to sell it on to other farmers, and if they are aware of the theft it will make it far more difficult for the thieves to sell the goods."

Farmwatch schemes have been set up across the area,with farmers exchanging information about suspicious activities and crime.

In some areas they have gone on night-time patrols with officers to try to catch criminals in the act or to gather information.