A SELF-APPOINTED crime watchdog is in demand after helping to reduce burglaries by nearly half.

Churchill resident Sue Savidge has been waging war on vandals and thieves with an unusual system of mobile patrols since the summer, when she was enraged by an incident of arson on playing fields in Blakedown.

She also heads a flourishing Neighbourhood Watch scheme with 580 members - and her efforts have been praised by police after a recorded 48 per cent drop in burglaries across the Hagley division, which includes the two villages.

And Mrs Savidge has found herself deluged by inquiries about her scheme from groups all over the country - and has even been contacted by police from as far away as Cheshire interested in her techniques.

But her methods are not readily disclosed to all and sundry. She said: "We have lots of success stories and I do have two 'secret ingredients' which are disclosed to leaders of new Neighbourhood Watch groups only."

The mobile patrols have expanded to 50 members, who use a roster system to cover the villages in car and on foot, armed with mobile phones.

They have an official link to Kidderminster's police control room, while would-be criminals are warned by more than 50 patrol signs throughout the patch. Inspector Steve Craig, of Kidderminster Police, said "a lot of hard work between police and other agencies" had helped bring ab- out the above-average reduction in burg- laries.

"We're grateful for the support of the local community, but it's not something we're complacent about. Figures could go back up and it's important to remain vigilant," he added.

Part of the Neighbourhood Watch scheme, which is funded through sponsorship and donations from residents, includes a postcoding-of-property campaign.

Mrs Savidge said: "Our Neighbourhood Watch is very proactive and is run very differently to most others, but suffice to say that a very important part of our success is due to the community spirit we are generating and are still cultivating."