TALKING street signs are the latest weapon being used to crack down on anti-social behaviour and crime in Worcestershire.

The signs have been installed to bark out messages such as "Police warning! Anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in this area" whenever anyone walks past.

Five signs have been installed at hot spots by West Mercia police in the hope of persuading people to behave.

The signs have been put in Kidderminster with the help of Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership.

One of them is at Piggy Allen, near Birchen Coppice Middle School, after complaints from people living nearby about anti-social behaviour.

Two more are in the Bromsgrove Street car park, and one at Weaver's Wharf retail centre, warning motorists to lock cars and hide valuables.

The signs are solar pow-red to enable them to work until twilight during the summer.

Inspector Paul Crowley said: "The signs can be adapted to deliver a variety of messages aimed at combating issues relating to a particular locality, whether vehicle crime in a car park or to enforce an alcohol-free zone.

"They are solar powered, so they won't activate during darkness to avoid annoyance to residents."

The final sign is at the junction of Coventry Street and Blackwell Street, advising people to guard bags, purses and wallets.

The signs, which cost £600 each, measure 10in by 8in, have a protective perspex covering and have been placed high up on lampposts.

The aim is to move them around as needed to deter anti-social behaviour, although there is no plan to use them in Worcester.

It comes two weeks after talking CCTV was tested in parts of the country in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour and littering. About £500,000 was spent on the trials, including areas such as Gloucester, Sandwell and Coventry.

There are 63 CCTV cameras in Worcester, but none of them can talk.