A plan to use Sutton's dog walkers to sniff out antisocial behaviour is being hailed as a howling success.

The scheme urges the canine's owners to pass on information on vandalism, graffiti, antisocial behaviour and more serious crimes to the police when walking their pooches.

Sergeant Jim Nicholls of St Helier's Safer Neighbourhood Team, believes the Dog Watch scheme is a way for the police and community to work together to help reduce crime and antisocial behaviour such as criminal damage and graffiti.

Sgt Nicholls has been interviewed by a number of local and national radio stations since the plan's launch.

The scheme now has around 40 members, many of them signing up at Sutton police's mobile reassurance unit which was at Sutton Arena last Saturday.

Benefits for the scheme's members including free dog collars, key rings with police contact numbers and fridge magnets.

Around 35 hounds were micro-chipped on the day for the discounted price of £10 and their owners could talk to experts from supporting vets Frean and Smith Veterinary Surgeons, North Cheam.

Sgt Nicholls said: "I'm delighted with the response that we have had so far. We know there is potential to make the scheme bigger and to have even more people providing eyes and ears on the ground to make the neighbourhood safer."

He plans to use the first meeting, which will be held after Easter, to provide details of how the scheme works, what he wants members to look for while they are out and about walking their dogs, and to explain what difference he hopes the scheme will make to the local community.

Dog Watch members can pass on information to police by dialling St Helier Safer Neighbourhood Team on 020 8649 3591 or in an emergency 999.