EAGLE-EYED residents in Pitsea, your neighbours need you.

The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is being re-launched by the town's police in a bid to cut crime and drive out crooks.

As part of the project, street and ward co-ordinators are needed to keep neighbours informed of any recent crimes in the area, such as burglaries, car break-ins and vandalism.

The co-ordinators will hold regular meetings, produce newsletters, offer people crime prevention advice and warn them about suspects to be on the lookout for.

Jean Collins, Pitsea Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, who has been involved with the scheme since 1979, urged people to stand up and help keep their community safe.

She said: "This is really a good thing for the area, but we need people to get involved.

"If I walked into someone else's street I wouldn't know who was who, or what was going on, but people living in that street will have that knowledge and will be more aware of what is going on in the community.

"That is why we need street co-ordinators who can give their neighbours information about what crimes are happening in the area so they can take preventative measures."

Police are currently looking for volunteers to work as ward co-ordinators in Fryerns, Chalvedon, Eversley, Vange and Bowers Gifford.

They also need street co-ordinators for roads across Pitsea and Fryerns.

Mrs Collins added: "The volunteers don't need to give up a lot of their time, even an hour a week would be great."

Anyone interested can contact crime reduction officer Steve Greener at Basildon on 01268 532212.