CHAIRMAN of Stoke Parish Council, Thelma Roll, called for villagers to 'look out for one another' in a bid to stem petty crime and vandalism.

At a meeting on Monday night, Mrs Roll called for residents to set up Neighbourhood Watches in the village after experiencing a problem with youths hanging about and causing trouble.

Speaking about her own experience Mrs Roll told how youths had put a firework in a pipe outside the village shop, blowing it clean off the wall.

Thelma Roll said: "Let's start some Neighbourhood Watches. We have all got to watch one another's backs. We live in a low crime area so we are a low priority to the police but we don't want to become a high crime area."

She added: "If anybody wants to set up a Neighbourhood Watch please come forward and let us know."

District councillor John Tidmarsh (Con-Stoke Prior) said: "In Stoke Heath there is a very successful Neighbourhood Watch scheme which has led to a 90 per cent reduction in crime.

He added: "Anybody who has been a victim of crime knows only to well how distressing it can be."

Cllr Tidmarsh also mentioned it may be possible to borrow the mobile closed circuit television cameras which were available to Stoke heath residents.

Anyone who is interested can reach Thelma Roll on 01527 831865.