If it is well received, more events of a similar nature will be rolled out to other Wansbeck communities in the future.

The Wansbeck Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) has chosen the afternoon of Saturday, March 29, to organise an 'awareness day' in and around Aln Street in Ashington.

The initiative is being supported by Northumbria Police, the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, Wansbeck District Council, East Ashington LIFE, the Arson Task Force and community street wardens.

Les Embleton of Northumberland Fire and Rescue, chairman of the CDRP, says that between noon and 5.30pm, people living in and around Aln Street will be given an insight into what services the partners can offer them to make them feel safer and more secure in their homes and neighbourhood.

"Crime prevention advice will be readily available from the police and we will have free smoke alarms to offer householders, as well as home risk assessments and information on Neighbourhood Watch schemes," said Les.

"We hope lots of people take the chance to come and talk to us, perhaps about their safety and security concerns, but also about how to make their homes generally safer for everyone in their family.

"One thing we want to get across to people is that looking after their safety and security is a genuine partnership effort between all the agencies involved in arranging the awareness day."

Two days later – Monday, March 31 – the CDRP partners are arranging for skips to be placed in the locality so people can freely dispose of unwanted rubbish they may have lying around their homes or gardens.