THE schoolwatch scheme in Hartlepool has received £5,000 from the National Lottery Fund.

The scheme encourages pupils, parents and residents to take an active part in helping to reduce incidents of crime and damage committed in their schools after hours or during holidays.

In the last school year, 32 break-ins and 30 incidents of criminal damage were reported and between April last year and March. Eight schools in Hartlepool were the subject of arson attacks.

Owton Manor Rossmere Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) and North Hartlepool SRB projects, Tackling Crime Together have each contributed to the scheme to increase the overall funding to more than £7,000. The money will be used to develop a short programme aimed at year six pupils, about schoolwatch, Neighbourhood Watch and community safety as part of the citizenship element of the National Curriculum.

Some of the money will pay for leaflets which will be handed to everyone within the schools, with police contact numbers on them, and for computer mouse mats with the schoolwatch logo to act as a reminder to staff and children to look after their school.

Mini filofaxes and membership cards for the children are also being produced as part of the project.

Community officer sergeant Lynn Beeston, who runs the scheme, said: "We are delighted to have received this money. Over recent years schools have often been the target of certain types of crime yet, they should be a safe and secure place for our children to be educated.

"It is hoped that by using this money to further promote awareness of the problem and an increased sense of ownership of schools, crime will reduce."