Farming leaders and Cumbria Police have launched an innovative scheme that will use social media to tackle farm based crime in west Cumbria.

Launched this week, Country Watch West takes its inspiration from the successful Country Watch Eden crime prevention initiative that was created back in 2015 to tackle the persistent problem of sheep rustling in the east of the county.

The new scheme will be spearheaded by PC Leanne Pettit with the help of NFU Cumbria County Adviser Helen Forrester.

Organisers say that Country Watch West will begin life by sharing intelligence about rural crime with farmers on social media site Facebook - via the Country Watch West page.

Helen Forrester said: “Crime prevention information, suspicious sightings and appeals for information will all be found on the new Facebook page. We’ll then progress to organising nights of action when farmers join police officers patrolling rural West Cumbria after dark.”Superintendent

Superintendent Gary Slater, of Cumbria Constabulary, said: “We see this as an excellent opportunity to engage with the public to report suspicious activity in the rural areas within West Cumbria.

"It could be suspicious vehicles or people seen in suspicious circumstances or concerns over sheep worrying, which can be a particular issue at this time of year. "

"Our police officers and police community support officers (PCSO) can access the Facebook pages on their mobile devices when they are on patrol and update members of the public immediately using this social media format.”

Country Watch West will cover Allerdale Borough and Rural, alongside Copeland Borough and Rural – reaching the towns of Cockermouth, Keswick, Silloth, Wigton, Aspatria, Workington, Maryport, Whitehaven, Egremont, Cleator Moor and Millom and all points in between.

A logo was designed for Country Watch West by Cockermouth School’s Daisy Holman, whose artwork was chosen by Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria Peter McCall and NFU Cumbria County Chairman David Raine.

Daisy won a book token and fleece jacket sporting her winning logo. Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall said: “I’m really pleased about the launch of Country Watch West – it is a great idea to use social media to appeal for information, raise awareness and provide alerts to farmers."