BURY'S first Neighbourhood Wardens have been appointed and are undergoing a four-week training programme.

The team will begin their patrols around the streets of East Bury from Monday, November 26.

Initially, the pilot scheme will operate in East Bury, covering the area bordered by Bell Lane/Rochdale Old Road and Wash Lane, incorporating the Parsonage, Huntley, Topping Fold and Fairfield estates. The new wardens will operate in a similar way to the existing community safety wardens patrolling the town centre, but have the job of improving community safety.

Bury Council leader Cllr John Byrne said: "Nationally we have very much spearheaded the development of community safety wardens with our scheme being closely studied and even copied by others across the country.

"Now, we want to introduce neighbourhood wardens to the borough and I am sure that they will be just as successful and quickly become part of the local community."

The scheme has been made possible thanks to funding from the Department of the Transport, Local Government and the Regions, the East Bury Initiative, Bury Council and Irwell Valley Housing Association.