The government has pledged £13.5m to set up community warden schemes across Britain in an attempt to cut crime.

Merthyr Tydfil in the south Wales Valleys - one of Britain's poorest areas - has been piloting one of the first projects using unemployed youngsters to patrol the streets.

Since the Safer Merthyr scheme was set up five years ago, house burglaries have been cut by more than 50%.

The latest development is a community warden scheme at Penydarren.

It is an idea copied from the Netherlands where jobless youngsters are employed as wardens to improve the quality of community life and reduce the fear of crime.

Royal approval

They patrol the streets helping to control problems such as litter and graffiti and can even offer the elderly help in collecting their pensions.

The project in Merthyr was praised during a visit by the Princess Royal last Friday.

Now the government has announced plans to expand the idea, opening up to 40 schemes across the country.

Sue King, the director of Safer Merthyr, has been chosen to head the development.