Sharp-eyed gardeners, householders and dog walkers are to help police crack down on thieves and vandals who plague allotment holders in York.

Users of Scarcroft Park allotments are the first in the city to take part in a groundbreaking Allotment Watch scheme which was launched at the weekend.

The move follows months of torment for gardeners who have seen sheds burned down, greenhouses smashed and vegetables ripped from the ground.

Deborah Rollinson, of Safer York Partnership, said problems had got to the stage where some holders "feared for their own safety" and were reluctant to visit their plots.

Allotment holder Doug Barnes, 83, of Anne Street, said vandals had burned down two sheds, damaged the entrance gates and smashed all the windows of a greenhouse in the past two months alone. But he said the scheme was a welcome move and he hoped it would help cut crime and increase security for gardeners. He said: "It's a good idea and anything that helps protect the allotments must help."

The scheme will see:

1,000 wallet-sized cards carrying emergency telephone numbers issued to users

Colour post-coding of tools and equipment to discourage thieves and help identification

Sale of shed alarms and personal attack alarms by the management committee

Increased police patrols and Community Watch signs.

Mrs Rollinson said: "While this is the first Allotment Watch scheme in York, we are planning to roll out more schemes in problem locations."

David Meigh, head of parks and open spaces at City of York Council, said there were roughly 1,800 allotment plots spread over about 35 separate sites in York that could benefit from the scheme.

But he stressed that problems remained infrequent and concentrated in a few particular areas. He said the vast majority of plot holders enjoyed trouble-free use.

Micklegate councillor Sandy Fraser said: "These added security measures should make a real difference to how people feel about tending their allotments and today is a great result for all concerned."

Safer York Partnership director Jane Mowat, said the project was a "great example" of the community, police and other public bodies working together.

Updated: 08:31 Monday, November 03, 2003