A UNIQUE scheme launched to combat crime in a village is set to spark an ambitious community-wide initiative.

Greenfield Neighbourhood Crimewatch began after a series high profile carjackings which left worried villagers reeling.

Now, after the scheme’s ongoing success, GMP Saddleworth and Lees are planning to use the blueprint to help all local villages to adopt a similar scheme and form small, private, confined groups.

And with GMP's full force-wide support and Neighbourhood Watch, the Greenfield Group will become a designated area in a Neighbourhood Watch plan but still retain its individual Crimewatch tag.

The Greenfield initiative was originally pioneered by Lee Hudson, a father of two, who organised an awareness campaign backed by a team of dedicated helpers after the criminal activity in the village last year.

And their street coordinator scheme went live last month with members being added to their WhatsApp group which is shared with police and the Oldham Homewatch Association.

Now it has since mushroomed with nearly 80 coordinators covering between 53 to 101 streets in Greenfield and more than 800 Facebook members.

Lee, chief operating officer of Yorkshire based Powerstar, said: “Thanks to everyone who has signed up their street and its not too late if you still wish to join.

“A street coordinator is ultimately only tasked with getting to know their neighbours and share any vital intelligence to raise awareness as not everyone is on Facebook, ” he explained.

Already the group have produced and distributed their own leaflets warning motorists about leaving valuables in their vehicles.

“Our target was commuters and tourists who leave their cars unattended for hours on Chapel Road and Shawhall Bank, “ he said.

“Hopefully we have got through to at least some people and who knows maybe even the thieves who target our area have seen the leaflets which can only be a positive.”

Oldham and Saddleworth Parish Cllr Jamie Curley, who himself is a street coordinator, said: “The group is very active and the network of coordinators keep their neighbours informed of any activity and report back to the wider group in real time.

“This gives an active an immediate reaction to any criminal activity which might affect the village.

“The group has also leafleted streets with crime prevention advice and regularly leaflets cars parked around Greenfield station to remind drivers to help themselves by ensuring cars are locked and keeping valuables out of sight.”

Cllr Curley added: “Lee and the team have worked really hard this last year and the way people have come together to work to help make the village safer is very encouraging.

“Actual crime in Saddleworth is low, and falling, but the reassurance of having this network is invaluable and I can only commend Lee for driving this and keeping it going.

“The addition of more CCTV and ANPR cameras - which we have secured the funding for - will also help as the group works with our Community Policing Team to help make our communities safer.”

Now the policing team are in discussions with other Saddleworth villages seeking coordinators to promote and roll the scheme out.