A REVOLUTIONARY new service to help Worcester households protect treasured possessions has been unveiled.

Members of neighbourhood watch schemes in the city will now be able to register to protect their art, antiques and collectables.

The scheme works on the principle that those joining will be asked to keep a record of possessions, together with photographs and a valuation.

If anyone becomes the victim of a theft they forward the description to the company Invaluable Group Ltd which is setting up the service.

A tracking system then moves into action and details are fed to the Company's police liaison team.

Each item is placed on a stolen art database and every night scanned against an auction database. If a match is found, Invaluable informs the police and action is taken to repossess the stolen items.

"What has been achieved with this joint enterprise is the addition of ten million pairs of eyes in our fight against crime," said Jon Dooley, chief executive of Invaluable Group Ltd.

"We believe that the benefits will be very real for householders, the police, dealers and insurers."