NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH: There was a meeting in the village hall to try to re-activate Neighbourhood Watch in Ilmington.It was organised by Gordon Wilkes, chairman of the South Warwickshire Association of Neighbourhood Watches, otherwise known as SWAN.

Also present were 13 parishioners and community beat officers Dale Packer and Derek Pope.

PC Packer gave a report on the state of Neighbourhood Watch and crime in South Warwickshire, with particular reference to Ilmington.

He particularly stressed that everything should be done to look after vulnerable elderly citizens in the parish.

Of the original 21 co-ordinators, 12 were willing to continue and a new chairman and secretary were appointed.

James Hynds, who has only been in the village for 18 months, and who lives in Elm Close, offered to take on the job of chairman and Daphne Scott volunteered to act as secretary.

Jill Coupland asked if the police could advice those living in the old people's bungalows, and other elderly residents, on how to protect themselves against criminals.

It was agreed that one of the first acts of the new Neighbourhood Watch would be to arrange a meeting with elderly people at which the police and other organisations could give advice on security chains, spyholes, bogus officials, etc.

PC Packer said that there were any number of organisations, such as the county council, the district council, Age Concern and the police, who could provide the necessary equipment at no cost to the elderly people involved.