Pictured above: (l-r) Mattie Ross, Mayor of Stonehouse, Simon Prior, Midcounties Co-operative, Chief Supt Nigel Avron, Neil Carmichael MP and Jess Jones, 15

The Midcounties Co-operative has backed a safer communities' initiative which encourages young people in Gloucestershire to get involved in crime prevention.

The community retailer sponsored the launch of Gloucestershire Police's new Junior Neighbourhood Watch Schemes for Stonehouse and the surrounding areas.

The launch at All Pulling Together Central, a one stop shop for community needs in Park Parade in Stonehouse, was welcomed by Stonehouse Mayor, Mattie Ross and MP for Stroud, Neil Carmichael.

Andy Cresswell, Group General Manager for Food Retail at The Midcounties Co-operative, said: "We are a retailer with strong links to the community and we are delighted to give our backing to this project. Getting young people involved in this way has to be good for the local neighbourhood, its residents and the local police in the Gloucestershire region."

The idea has been spearheaded by PCSO Tracy Wren from the local policing team. She said: "Within the local policing team we have a great rapport with a lot of young people in the area and so getting them more involved in supporting their community seemed like a very simple yet effective step forward.

"Neighbourhood Watch is a brilliant organisation that really does make a difference in supporting the police and each other in order to keep areas safe and pleasant places to live."

She praised the positive response to the project from local people, from Maidenhill School, Cirencester College and Wycliffe School and also from local businesses, especially Midcounties.

"What we hope the new Junior Watches will show people is that by co-operating with Neighbourhood Watch you can make a difference - no matter how old you are," Tracy added.

Each Junior Neighbourhood Watch Scheme will have a young person as their co-ordinator who will keep their peers and other local people informed about crimes in the area and distribute appropriate crime prevention materials as well as receiving information from and to Gloucestershire Police.

Junior Neighbourhood Watches have so far been set up in Middle Yard Kings Stanley, Brimley in Leonard Stanley, Oakfield Road in Frampton and Midland Road in Stonehouse and police are eager for more to join them.