Children as young as eight have joined the fight against crime and antisocial behaviour on two of Oxford's most troubled estates.

Organisers, from left, Jessie Koudoua, Jenny Childs, Steve Kilsby, Teresa Sheppard and Si Blackhall with some of the children

But the innovative junior street warden scheme is at risk if local businesses don't stump up funding.

The initiative -- modelled on an award-winning idea in Swindon -- has been launched in Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys to encourage young people to help stamp out problems and build community pride.

It has been set up following the success of a nine-strong adult team introduced in March last year by Oxford City Council to monitor the Littlemore, Northfield Brook and Greater Leys estates.

About 30 children in Blackbird Leys and 15 in Rose Hill have already joined. But organisers are desperate for sponsorship to secure the scheme's future and have appealed to businesses.

The eight to 14-year-olds met twice last week to discuss a plan of action with senior street wardens. Their main responsibility will be litter picking, but they will also help to identify areas targeted by vandals and graffiti artists.

Some have already been out on patrol looking for out-of-date tax discs on vehicles.

Senior Rose Hill street warden Teresa Sheppard, who is running the project, wants to arrange sponsorship so children can be rewarded for their efforts.

She said: "We have absolutely no funding and the success of the scheme will depend on the support we get. The children are all very enthusiastic and they have the use of our litter pickers, but we do need to get them things like protective gloves."

She would also like cash to take the children on day trips. "It's the least they deserve," she said.

Ms Sheppard, a former store detective, said wardens were also looking for a venue as a base for the junior team.

Oxford's scheme is being modelled on Swindon's award-winning project, set up in 2002.

The Wiltshire town's street warden supervisor Christopher Neville-Jones said children there were sponsored by Nationwide. Nike and Tesco also helped, along with RAF Lynham, which had organised day trips.

Mr Neville-Jones said: "We have a budget of zero. There is not really any funding available for schemes like this so it really does mean businesses and organisations in the community have to help out.

"The results here show it's worth it. Vandalism, graffiti and petty crime has been reduced because it's brought back the spirit in the community. Children are now proud of where they live."

Sarah Churchill, 12, who lives in Rivermead Road, Rose Hill, and attends St Gregory the Great School, in Cricket Road, Oxford, is Rose Hill's oldest junior warden.

She said: "Where I live there's drugs and bottles of drink and cans of beer. I want to help clear it up because I don't want to grow up and be like the people who make the mess."

Steve Kilsby, manager of the city council's Crime and Nuisance Action Team (Canact), has welcomed the initiative.

He said: "The adult scheme has been a great success and we are looking forward to the development of the juniors. It's a wonderful opportunity for these children and Blackbird Leys and Rose Hill. It gives the children something to look forward to and aspire to."

There are four adult wardens based in Rose Hill and four in Blackbird Leys. One provides back-up where needed.

They do not have the power to make arrests, but log information and pass it to police and councils.

The team is funded by a £650,000 Home Office grant until 2006 and has won an award for efficiency.

To help with sponsoship, call 01865 401456 or 07990 613727, or e-mail tsheppard@oxford.gov.uk

samantha.simpson@nqo.com

Comment: Page 12

OXFORD'S new junior street wardens told the Oxford Mail they were raring to start clearing up their communities.

The children, who have been kitted out with special baseball caps and vests, will meet every Saturday, after school, and up to five days a week during school holidays to patrol the streets of Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys.

They joined up after senior street wardens gave talks about the new scheme at schools in the estates.

Eleven-year-old Rebecca Winfield, of Rose Hill, who is due to start at St Gregory the Great School in Cricket Road, Oxford, next month, said: "I want to keep the community clean and help people.

"Litter can be nasty for animals. I've seen lots of drink bottles lying around and I'm worried that little children might pick them up and drink from them. I want to live in a nice, clean place."

Thomas Wensley, nine, of Lenthall Road, Rose Hill, who attends Rose Hill Primary School, said: "I know places where there's graffiti and it's not nice. I am most worried about that and rubbish. I can't wait to go out on patrol and help people."

Grant Gregory, 11, of Rose Hill, who starts at Peers School, Littlemore, shortly, said: "I've seen lots of rubbish about. There's also graffiti and it doesn't look nice. I am looking forward to going out on patrols with the senior wardens. I want to help the community."