A WARDEN dressed in red is being appointed to walk the streets of Malvern's Langland ward to present a friendly face in an effort to cut crime, anti-social behaviour, abandoned cars and graffiti.

The new neighbourhood warden scheme is being delivered by Elgar Housing Association and Malvern Hills District Council, with funding from the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions for two years.

The Malvern warden will be one of only two in the county whose job will be to walk around a designated area observing and reporting back on incidents so that residents feel safer and the area is tidier.

Roy Bond, Elgar housing officer for Langland and scheme manager for the warden, said that final checks were being made on a warden who was due to take up his duties on August 19, after which he would undergo a month's training.

He said: "Primarily he will be there to be seen, to observe and report. He's looking at different issues - one to help us and the police in relation to crime and crime prevention aspects. Another is to act as a professional witness in relation to crime and anti-social behaviour and try to spot damage, vandalism and graffiti so that we can get it sorted out.

"He will also report damage to street lighting and street furniture.

"The concept is he is going to be doing it for the whole of the community so that he covers all of the properties including ours, owner occupied, FCH housing and Marches housing."

If having a warden proves to be successful in reducing the numbers of criminal incidents, including burglaries and vehicle crime, after two years Mr Bond said that further funding would be sought to continue the scheme.

It is hoped the £29,000 scheme will pay for itself, by cutting the expense of repairs to damaged property.

Jenny Lawrence, community safety officer for the Malvern Hills district, said: "Malvern is a wonderful place to live and we welcome the chance to enhance life for people close to the centre."