Burglars, bullies and troublemakers beware!

Step on to one Bradford street and the members of the crime-busting Neighbourhood Child Police are waiting to get you.

Armed with leaflets, posters and bags of enthusiasm, the four-strong crew are determined to crack down on crime in their leafy cul-de-sac.

Led by ten-year-old Sam Roper, the team has set up the neighbourhood watch scheme in Cheviot Gate, Low Moor, following a spate of burglaries and thefts.

Sickened by break-ins to sheds and thefts of garden furniture, the youngsters knocked on doors in the area to see if an established Neighbourhood Watch scheme was in operation.

After being told no such scheme existed, the determined team set about starting their own.

Now in its fourth week, the Neighbourhood Child Police's members have raised awareness of problems and given security advice by posting leaflets through doors and pinning up posters.

The confident squad are even thinking about starting their own web site giving details about their project on the Internet.

Sam, who attends High Fernley Primary School in Wyke, said: "My shed got broken into and we went round and asked people if there was a neighbourhood watch here but nobody seemed interested.

"Now we're trying to run our own and we are trying to stop burglaries, bullying on the street and people dropping rubbish on the floor."

The group's other members are Leah Wood, ten, Josh Scott, seven, both of Hill Top C of E Primary School in Low Moor, and Maisie Roper, five, of High Fernley Primary School, all pictured here with Sam.

Each member has an important role to play by patrolling an area of the street at different parts of the day, watching out for criminal activity.

They have already approached the police who have given them leaflets about security, invisible ink security markers for property and stickers to hand out to Cheviot Gate residents.

And the team have sold buns and held jumble sales to raise vital funds for their kitty, which stands at £28.91, which is being put towards buying paper and pens for posters and other vital equipment.

Sam said the crime squad had promised to donate half the total to charity.

Sam and Maisie's mum, Lesley, 34, said: "We're really pleased and proud of them all because we didn't push the children into this. They just thought of it all themselves.

"It seems to be building momentum and it's really good that they're doing something positive and not causing trouble in the summer holidays."

Sergeant Susan Barnes, crime reduction officer for Bradford South Police, said: "It is great to see young people joining together to benefit their local community in this way. Neighbourhood Watch schemes have proved to be an excellent crime prevention measure which also give an old-style sense of community encouraging people to speak to their neighbours and look out for one another.

"Neighbourhood Watch groups help us by sharing information about local crime, reporting suspicious incidents, taking crime prevention measures to protect their property and looking after neighbours' homes.

"The fact that this group of children has adopted such community spirit at a young age is fantastic."