Police in Herefordshire are appealing for information about a teenager who has been missing from her home since last week.

Samantha Baker, aged 16, disappeared while on a shopping trip to Asda in Hereford at around 7pm on Thursday, 20th March. She has failed to return to her home near Bromyard since that time.

Police have been conducting enquiries with a number of Forces across the country to try and locate Samantha, who has links to Telford, Coventry, Swindon and Gloucester areas.

'Although Samantha has been missing for some days and not made contact with her home, she has been in touch with some of her friends,' said a police spokesman. 'It is thought that she may now be in the Coventry area and we are urging Samantha to make contact with the police to let us know she is safe and well. Equally, we would like to speak to anyone who sees or has heard from Samantha so that we can try and locate her as quickly as possible to ensure her welfare.'

Samantha is described as white, of slim build and with dark brown shoulder-length hair. She is around 5ft 7ins tall. When last seen she was wearing light blue jeans, black boots and a black Yankees hooded top.

Anyone with information about Samantha’s whereabouts is asked to contact Leominster Police Station on 08457 444888.

Police in Hereford are warning bank and building society customers to be on their guard to stop themselves becoming victims of cash machine fraud. This follows several incidents were devices have attached to the card slots on cash machines in the city centre are believed to have resulted in unauthorized transactions being made. Victims have reported several hundred pounds and in once case, several thousand pounds, being fraudulently withdrawn or spent using their cards.

Police are investigating each of these incidents and liaising closely with the banks concerned and retail outlets across the city to trace the offenders.

Users of ATM cash machines are being warned to be extra vigilant and not to use machines if it appears they have been tampered with. It could result in criminals retaining your card, or using data retrieved from it to form a ‘cloned’ card.

'These sorts of offences are carried out by organized criminals often using sophisticated methods. It is not always obvious that a machine has been tampered with,' said PC Charles Naylor, Herefordshire Division’s Crime Risk Manager. 'Many cash machines do show on screen reminders about card security before you key in your PIN and it is well worth taking heed of this advice. There are also a number of other things people can do to lessen the likelihood that they fall victim to such scams.

Firstly, try sticking to using cash machines you are familiar with so you will be able to tell more easily if it has been changed in some way. Scan the whole area before approaching the ATM, and avoid using it if there are any suspicious looking individuals around. Check for anything unusual or suspicious about the ATM which may indicate possible tampering and do not use it if there appears to be any attachments to the card slot or key pad. Never force a card into the slot - it could well have been deliberately blocked to trap your card. Make sure that other people are keeping their distance from you while you are at the machine and keep on the lookout for people watching you enter your PIN. It is best to stand close to the ATM and shield the keypad with a hand when keying in PIN numbers. Ask the machine to print a transaction record and then make sure you compare the receipts with your monthly card statement. Report any discrepancies to the bank immediately,' added PC Naylor.

Should any devices be found on ATM machines, customers are advised to leave it in place and report the discovery immediately to police, as well as alerting the bank.

Corner kicks, volleyed goals and throw-ins are proving a great way to combat anti-social behaviour for a Local Policing Team in the South Wye area of Hereford. Community Support Officer Jason Merrick has joined forces with Kemble Housing, which is part of West Mercia Housing Group, to take part in a series of football coaching sessions being run at the pitches off Vernon Williams Close.

Kemble Housing has been running the All-ages Soccer Bureau in Belmont since last year, alongside others at Ledbury and Credenhill, and has just resumed sessions after a winter break. The scheme is aimed at the children of Kemble Housing tenants and provides soccer skills training and the chance to play in matches among the age groups. When signing up to the scheme, the young people have to make a promise to behave properly by showing respect to other players and people in the local community both on and off the pitch. A code of conduct is strictly enforced by a red and yellow card system, so anyone found to be using bad language or causing anti-social behaviour on the estate can and will be excluded from attending.

Continued . . .

The All-ages Soccer Bureau is co-ordinated by Kemble Housing Customer Involvement Officer Richard Hancock who says it has proved a great success in reducing anti-social behaviour complaints by encouraging young people to pursue a fun and healthy activity.

'In football they learn the importance of teamwork and showing respect for their team mates and coaches. They know that if they fail to turn up to a training session or a match they are letting both themselves and their team mates down, he said. 'When they sign up, the young people are told they need to ensure their behaviour off the pitch is as good as on it or they could be excluded. Since we started the scheme in August last year everyone’s behaviour has been very good and it is pleasing to see that this has continued outside of the sessions. The good thing about the All-ages Soccer Bureau is that anyone can take part and have fun, regardless of their age or footballing skills, make new friends and also earn respect for themselves and take on new responsibilities,' added Richard.

The scheme is backed and funded by the Football Association and the Herefordshire Football Association and those taking part will receive certificates from the HFA and Kemble Housing. Some youngsters may even get the chance to become qualified coaches themselves and inter-estate football matches are also being planned.

West Mercia Constabulary is also contributing to the scheme’s success; the Belmont Local Policing Team is funding the purchase of two portable goalpost sets, which will allow the coaches to set up different sized pitches to suit the various age groups. CSO Merrick is also using the opportunity the sessions create to talk to the young people about the issues that affect them and also to break down some of the barriers that might otherwise exist. He said, 'The football sessions have proved to be a great way for me to get to know the young people on the estate. Even since attending the first few sessions I have been stopped in the street numerous times by young people who have asked if I will be coming along again, whereas before they may not have even stopped to talk. The sessions give the young people taking part a positive activity to focus on, teaches them about respect for each other and the local community and I think the benefits of this will continue off the football pitch too. I have always been interested in football myself, so it’s a really enjoyable way for me to become involved with the local area.'

To find out more details about the All-ages Soccer Bureau, contact Richard Hancock at Kemble Housing on 01432 374795. You can also contact the Belmont Local Policing Team of Sergeant Chris Payne, CSO Jason Merrick and CSO Alison Licqurish by calling the message line 01432 346717 or by emailing belmont.lpt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk.

Local Conservative parliamentary candidate Jesse Norman has slammed the Government's Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for undermining our farmers -- yet again. Food From Britain (FFB) was established in 1983 to provide support and advice to UK growers and food producers to help them expand their business at home and increase export sales. But now DEFRA minister Hilary Benn has announced that the funding settlement for FFB for 2008/9 will be cut from £4.6 million to £4 million, and the whole enterprise will be shut down by April 2009.

Commenting on the news, Jesse said, 'The closure of Food From Britain is another serious and quite unnecessary blow for Britain's farmers and food producers. As we have seen with DEFRA's handling of rural payments, foot and mouth and BSE, this government has no understanding of the countryside and the rural economy. Now they're taking away the organization that was set up to promote British produce all over the world. It just doesn't make any sense. We should be doing much more to help our food producers to grow and strengthen their businesses. They are the bedrock of our food economy, yet all they have had is years of Government bungling and incompetence. The plain truth is that Labour have no conception of Britain outside big cities.

A Local Policing Team has joined forces with the ward councillor to take crime prevention messages on the road, with a series of talks and mobile surgeries. PC Pam Epton and Community Support Officer Laurence Hull from the Hereford Rural North Team are now regularly being joined by Councillor Sally Robertson at the special events as part of the Partners and Communities Together (PACT) process. Surgeries are taking place across the Local Policing Team area, which covers villages to the north of Hereford city such as Burghill, Tillington, Holmer, Lyde and Holmer.

Using a police van as a base, they are able to set up their meeting places directly in the communities they serve and ensure that they can cover the whole area. This had sometimes proved difficult in the past due to a lack of natural meeting places in what is predominately a rural area. At the surgeries people can raise any quality of life issues that have arisen in the local area, as well as seeking advice on a wide range of topics.

Councillor Robertson said that they have proved a great success: 'What is pleasing is that many people - and in particular older people - have told me that just by seeing us at the surgeries they feel much more secure. The surgeries have been well-attended so far and have proved a great opportunity to speak to local residents to hear their concerns and we look forward to meeting with more and more people as time goes on.'

Bakcing up the surgeires are a series of crime prevention talks in which Councillor Robertson and the Local Policing Team outline the benefits of SmartWater - a liquid forensic property coding system. Thanks to its unique numbering system, property marked with SmartWater has its own ‘forensic fingerprint’, which is even more individual and robust than DNA and can be analysed and identified down to a billionth part. SmartWater can be simply dabbed into the nooks and crannies of valuable items, marking the object with its unique forensic code. Warning labels are then displayed in the resident’s windows and doors to let the criminals know their houses are protected.

Allied to this, Herefordshire Division’s brand new custody suite at Leominster Police Station is fitted with SmartWater detection equipment and everyone entering is automatically scanned for traces. Should a positive ‘hit’ be made, the place where the SmartWater originated from can quickly be traced - leaving criminals having to answer some tough questions. Said CSO Hull, 'While it is true that the overall levels of burglaries do remain low in Herefordshire, one burglary is always too many and people can always take some extra steps to make their homes more secure. SmartWater is an extremely effective deterrent to crime and we are encouraging all our residents and businesses to get their property marked up. “If you want to know more or ask questions about SmartWater, please do come along to one of the talks'.

SmartWater talks take place at the Simpson Hall, Burghill on Wednesday, 2nd April at 7pm; at Pipe and Lyde Church at 7.30pm on Thursday, 10th April and at St Mary’s Hall, Holmer on Friday, 25th April at 7pm. Mobile PACT surgeries take place in the Holmer area from 6pm on Friday, 18th April and Burghill, Pipe and Lyde on Friday, 2nd May at 6pm. Meeting points will be circulated locally nearer the time. Meanwhile, the next main PACT meeting for the whole Hereford Rural area takes palce on Wednesday, 23rd April at Herefordshire Council’s Brockington headquarters in Hafod Road, Hereford. The meeting in the council chamber begins at 7pm and all are welcome.

Six months on and with around £45,000 spent, youngsters in a Hereford suburb are enjoying first class play equipment thanks to a joint Hereford City / Herefordshire Council project. The two authorities embarked on a new partnership to improve the city's parks and play areas in the autumn last year. Now the first ball court and teen area with seating has been completed at Beaumont Gardens, nestling behind the Courtyard Centre for the arts.

'This is the first of three sites across Hereford that we are looking at and it shows what the benefits are of engaging with our local communities,' said Councillor Anna Toon, leader of Hereford City Council. 'We have had representatives from the local community, the police and the two councils working together on this project and I am pleased to announce that the other two projects - ball courts at Gorsty Lane, Tupsley, and Grandstand Road - have also been completed.

Councillor Adrian Blackshaw, Herefordshire Council's cabinet member for economic development and community services, said, 'We have limited funds which allow us to maintain existing parks and play areas, but not to create new ones. By working in partnership with the city council and the police - who have paid for the new teen shelter at the park - we've shown what can be achieved through this kind of partnership working.'

The new area boasts a large ballpark, modern climbing frame and the shelter in a corner of Beaumont Gardens. Both Hereford City Council and Herefordshire Council are keen to hear from anyone interested in creating a new play area. Anyone interested should either contact Mark Inglis, assistant Hereford City Council town clerk, at atc@herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk, or contact Fran White at fawhite@herefordshire.gov.uk.

Police are appealing for information as they try to trace a man responsible for the theft of a bicycle from a secure rack at Halfords in Hereford. The bicycle is a bright yellow Apollo TDF (Tour De France) model worth around £250 and fitted with front and rear lights, gator skin tyres and a yellow bottle holder. Between 1pm and 1.20pm on Sunday, 23rd March the bicycle was removed from a metal framed cycle rack at the rear of the Halfords store. A padlock was broken off to gain entry.

Two boys reported seeing an old style Renault Clio, light blue in colour, pull up and park in Mortimer Road next to Dunelm. The driver got out to allow a passenger to alight. This man was then seen loitering in the general area of the Halfords/Maplin car park, before disappearing from view briefly. He then reappeared riding the yellow bicycle at speed, pedalling so fast he hit the kerb and bounced his way towards Mortimer Road and cycling away. The witnesses then checked the bicycle shed and, realizing it had been broken into, reported it straight away to staff at Halfords who in turn reported the theft of the bike to police.

The boys were each given £5 vouchers by Halfords for their public spirit. Officers investigating the theft now have a good description of the man seen acting suspiciously in the area and are keen to hear from anyone recognizing him.

'He was quite distinctive in appearance and may have been seen by people as he rode away from the area,' said PC Sophie Morgan from Hereford Police. 'He was white and aged around 5ft 8ins or 5ft 9ins tall. He was medium build and wore a grey woolly hat with a black pattern on it and a bobble on the top, as well as ear protection muffs which hung down at the sides. His top was brown or black with a small logo on the back with dark writing. He wore blue tracksuit bottoms with two white lines down the side and trainers. The witnesses reported that these had air bubbles at the bottom, so they may have been Nike Air Max trainers or similar. In addition, this man was carrying a black bin bag over one shoulder which had a point at one end, as it contained some sort of implement,' added PC Morgan.

Anyone with information about the man’s identity should contact Hereford Police quoting incident number 281-s- of 23rd March or, if they do not want to give their own details, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Herefordshire Council has backed plans to build a new school for 70 pupils at Staunton on Wye. The support by the council's cabinet was crucial to secure a government grant to cover 90 per cent of the net costs of the new school, which would have been withdrawn at the end of the month if the local authority did not support the scheme.

The present imposing Victorian Gothic, three story primary school was built in 1852 but is unsuitable for modern educational needs and is impractical for disabled access. A report by the council's children's services stated that over £177,000 would need to be spent on repairs to the building.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families offered the governors of Staunton on Wye 90 per cent funding towards the cost of a new school, which is fund-aided, and current estimates suggest this would cost over £1.6 million. But there have been difficulties in identifying a site, although the council acquired land at a cost of £92,500 in April last year.

Outline planning permission has now lapsed but in the cabinet meeting, councillors heard that the governors of the school could reapply and the application should be resolved within three months. Questions have been raised about the effect the scheme could have on some nearby schools with falling rolls.

Although there are mixed views in the county, the council decided that the opportunity for Government investment in a new primary school is rare and it should back the governors' project for a new building.

Herefordshire Council is encouraging people to support their local post offices and village shops by expanding the council's bill paying service.

Nearly 80 post offices and 50 village shops with pay zone outlets are already able to accept council tax payments and soon will be able to include other types of payment, like general invoices, business rates, or payments for services like day care.

This means that people will not have to travel to Hereford or the market town Info Shops to pay their council bills. Many village outlets stay open later and open at weekends, which makes for a more convenient service.

'The move will also cut down on travelling time and costs and help make the county a greener place,' said Mike Toney, Herefordshire Council's Head of Benefit and Exchequer Services.

The council is also supporting owners of post offices and village shops with master classes on boosting business skills. Working with the Rural Shops Alliance, a national trade association representing over 7,000 independent village shops across England, the council sets up information events to show how the latest marketing techniques can help guarantee their survival.

Owners of village shops requiring further information should contact Anthony Bush, Parish and Rural Services Officer at Herefordshire Council, on 01432 260611.

There is a list of post offices and village stores accepting council tax payments on the council's web site.

A key event for landlords in Herefordshire is to be held on the evening of Wednesday, 2nd April, between 7pm and 9:30pm in the Council Chamber at Brockington, 35 Hafod Road, Hereford, HR1 1SH

The event has been organized by Herefordshire Council's Strategic Housing Team and will give local landlords the chance to catch up on a number of key issues.

Speakers will covers subjects such as changes to payments and local housing allowances, energy performance certificates and an update on licensing for houses in multiple occupation.

Representatives from a number of organizations relating to private landlords will also man stands during the evening and will be available to answer questions.

The event is open to private landlords renting out one or more properties in the district, professional landlords or letting agents and individuals considering renting out a property.

A two day outdoor activity spectacular has been scheduled to take place at Eastnor Castle over the May Bank Holiday weekend of Sunday, 4th and Monday, 5th May. The University of the Great Outdoors is being heralded as the only regional event focusing exclusively on outdoor activities. Visitors will pay a one off entrance fee, which will then enable them to circulate within the grounds, and enjoy taster sessions in a choice of 29 different activities.

This is the opportunity in The Midlands this year for anyone to come and have a go at a new and exciting outdoor activity.

The action packed sessions available include grass sledging, orienteering, canoeing and kayaking, off road driving with Land Rover, mountain boarding, pony trekking, abseiling, archery, bungee trampolining and zip-lining along the longest line in the UK over Eastnor lake.

The event also offers visitors to the county the opportunity to camp out under the stars and learn the true art of bushcraft. For anyone not feeling quite so energetic, there will be some more leisurely activities available during the two days including wine tasting, green woodcraft, photography, golfing skills or simply a chance to spectate.

Exhibitors and leisure equipment suppliers will also be on hand throughout the event to provide expert advice, and essential kit, to anyone interested in taking the taster sessions on to the next level.

Former Welsh rugby player Leuan Evans will be the face of this year's UGO event. The record breaking rugby player and current day broadcaster will be at Eastnor Castle on both days, encouraging all comers to try their hand at some different outdoor activities, especially the Tag Rugby.

The University of the Great Outdoors will be open to participants from 10am to 5pm on both Sunday and Monday.

Full details are now featured on the website www.visitherefordshire.co.uk, as well as in a free University of the Great Outdoors leaflet, which is available by telephoning 01432 260621.

There is good news for those of you who have had library books, CDs, DVDs etc. for so long now that you have been too embarrassed to take them back. Herefordshire Libraries are holding an amnesty week from Monday, 7th until Monday, 14th April, giving library users the chance to return outstanding items with no fear of a fine and no questions will be asked.

Any fines and charges due on items which have already been returned - irrespective of the time scale - can also be erased; so if you've been too embarrassed by how much you owe, come back to your library for a warm welcome!.

Councillor Blackshaw, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Community Services said, 'We are keen for all of our customers to have a chance to wipe the slate clean and hopefully welcome back customers who may have been reluctant to return with overdue items on their conscience.'

This is a good time to start afresh as the library service is introducing some changes to its fines and charges from Tuesday, 15th April.

Fines for adult books will increase to 17p per day and the cost of hiring DVDs rated PG and above and Playstation® games will be £2.50 per week, which is still a bargain compared to hire shops.

Requesting a book which is not available in Herefordshire Libraries will still cost £2.50 but if the book has to be obtained from another authority there will be an additional £3.50 charge.

Children's fines will stay at 5p per day and there are still no fines for under 5s.

Bookstart and Bookstart Plus offer a package of free books and information to babies and toddlers, through health visitors and childcare providers.

Customers who are visually impaired or have other disabilities which affect their ability to read books are also offered free talking books, CDs, DVDs, videos and will not be charged fines.

Various other charges are also changing. Please visit your local library or visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/libraries for full details of all the fines and charges.

The relocation of the Ledbury Tourist Information centre to its new home in the Master's House is almost complete and the new centre will open its doors for business this coming Friday, 4th April at 11:30am.

Local food and drink producers will be providing light refreshments at lunch time to mark the opening to which local business people and members of the community are welcome to pay a visit.

Councillor Blackshaw, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Community Services said, 'The transfer of the service to the Master's House can be viewed as the first stage of the exciting development of St Katherine's, bringing new services and activity to the area whilst retaining the historical integrity of the building.'

The Master's House will now be home for both Info in Herefordshire, which delivers the front line service for the council, and the Tourist Information centre.

It is hoped that this co-location of services will benefit the community by increasing the access to and the availability of services for all who need and use them.

Mums, dads and carers are being invited to bring their babies along to new bounce and rhyme sessions being held at the Kington Centre. The baby bounce and rhyme sessions have been launched as part of the National Year of Reading campaign which aims to get more people reading books.

Angela Davies, assistant reader services librarian, said, 'These sessions are aimed at being an entertaining way for youngsters to get used to coming into the library. We use rhymes to get the children used to the sounds of words and they can also have great fun and make a lot of noise as well.

When children come to libraries at an early age, we find they develop a keen interest and love of books which will stand them in good stead for when they start school.'

The bounce and rhyme sessions will be held at the Kington Centre every Monday morning between 10:30 and 11am. The first session will take place on Monday, 7th April and all parents and carers of children from 0 to four years of age are welcome to attend.

For further information call Angela Davies on 01432 383294.

Ambitions to transform Wyebridge Sports College into a new, state-of-the art academy have won the backing of Herefordshire Council. The council's cabinet ( approved a 250 page outline business case that should unlock almost £22 million of capital investment from the government to rebuild and refurbish the high school in the South Wye area of Hereford.

Final permission rests with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. The funding agreement will be between the sponsors of the academy - the Hereford Diocese - and the government's Partnership for Schools programme.

The aim of the academy is to raise the educational achievement of the 900 pupils from years 7-11 that it will service. The school will be managed as a charitable body subject to the same inspections, admissions and employment framework as other maintained schools. It will serve the same catchment area and its admissions policy will remain unchanged, with no church places to be offered.

The new academy will be built on the playing fields of the existing school and once complete, the present school buildings will be demolished and a new outside sports complex will be constructed. .

The sponsors, the school and the council's children and young people's services favour the option. It will provide good access and a better, more integrated design, with buildings positioned away from housing on the boundary, and allows the school and third parties to continue to function in the existing buildings until the academy is completed in 2011. The freehold of the site remains in the ownership of the council.

The plan is that the academy will provide 220 post-16 places, and will build on its specialist 14 to 19 diplomas in sport, health and science.

The principal designate, John Sheppard, was appointed in December 2007 to lead the development of the new school organization and further appointments will be made during the coming months. Consultants will be engaged to manage the project with Government meeting the costs.

The school has made consistent progress, improving five GCSE pass rates from just over ten per cent to 52 per cent in seven years. The right learning atmosphere has been created with improved teaching and learning, but the building needs major investment and the academy programme will enable this to happen. Without it, the school would have to wait until around 2020 for the next wave of the government's Building Schools for the Future programme.

The cabinet also approved in principle the relocation of temporary accommodation for Redhill Residents Association and a bid for funding of £80,000 will be made to the council's capital programme.

Anyone wanting to stand as a councillor for Colwall Parish Council should pick up a nomination paper and return it by noon on Thursday, 10th April. If there are enough candidates, a poll will take place on Thursday, 8th May.

Nomination papers can be collected from the electoral registration team, at the County Offices, on Bath Street, Hereford HR1 2HQ, during office hours. They can also be downloaded from Herefordshire Council's website, there is a link to elections from the main page, or, papers can be collected from Mrs K. Davis, Parish Clerk, Humble Bee Hall, Hollybush, Ledbury HR8 1ET.

Completed nomination forms must be returned to the Elections office at Bath Street by noon on Thursday, April 10.

Anybody who wishes to vote by post should make sure their new application reaches the team in Bath Street by 5pm on Tuesday, 22nd April.

Applications to appoint a proxy must reach the team by no later than 5pm on Tuesday, 29th April, except in cases where unforeseen illness or incapacity occurs, in which case applications may be made up until 5pm on Thursday, 8th May.

Anyone who wishes to change or cancel an existing postal / proxy vote needs to inform the elections office in writing by 5pm on Tuesday, 22nd April.

Pensioners in Herefordshire will be able to enjoy free bus travel anywhere in England from tomorrow - even if their new bus passes haven't arrived yet. The new passes, which became valid on Tuesday, 1st April allow pensioners and many disabled people to have free bus travel throughout England at off-peak times.

The passes also mean that local people can enjoy free local bus travel throughout Herefordshire and between Herefordshire and certain places in Wales at all times.

The passes are being sent directly from Fujitsu Services Ltd, which is a contractor appointed by the government to produce passes for councils throughout the UK.

Anybody who applied for a new pass before Friday, 1st should have received one by now, so most eligible people should have one. However, those who applied between Friday, 1st and Friday, 29th February should receive theirs by Thursday, 10th April.

'Anybody who is concerned that they haven't received their pass yet, or anyone who has a pass with incorrect details on it, should contact Info in Herefordshire on 01432 260500 for assistance,' said Jim Davies, Herefordshire Council's Public Transport Manager.

'The old style Herefordshire passes are still valid and can be used for local travel until the new passes are delivered.'

If you need to travel elsewhere in England and you haven't received your new pass, a temporary upgrade to the local pass can be issued if you contact the council's public transport team on 01432 260211.

Passes are available to anyone over the age of 60 and to many disabled people. Applications can be made up to one month before their 60th birthday at any Info Shop. Just take along a passport size photograph along with proof of age and address.

Herefordshire Council has hired a team of handymen to help people who are struggling to keep on top of those little jobs that keep cropping up around the home.

The council's You@Home team has introduced the service to help anyone over the age of 16 who finds the pressure of maintaining their home difficult on account of disability, life experience or illness.

The handymen will be capable of carrying out a wide variety of jobs which are necessary either for safety reasons or to stop someone from being evicted.

The type of jobs the handymen will tackle include:

· Checking the safety of electrical equipment.
· Replacing fuses
· Fixing blinds, curtain rails, drawer handles and loose carpets
· Repairing skirting boards, doors and shelving
· Installing safety and security items
· Replacing light bulbs
· Unblocking sinks and toilets
· Replacing broken window panes

'We can also offer a home safety assessment and if this highlights any work which needs doing, we may be able to carry out some of the work ourselves,' said Councillor Olwyn Barnett, Cabinet Member for Social Care Adults and Health.

The scheme is open to people who own their homes as well as people who live in rented accommodation.

If the Handyperson Scheme cannot carry out any requested work, they will be able to point people in the right direction.

'All home visits will be confirmed in advance by letter or telephone and the handyperson will leave a record of the work which has been undertaken,' said Richard Gabb, the council's Head of Strategic Housing Services. 'The only thing people will have to pay for is the cost of materials. Alternatively, they can provide their own.'

Anyone who thinks they could benefit from the Handyperson scheme should contact the You@Home team on 01432 260757, or via e-mail: yah@herefordshire.gov.uk.

People in Herefordshire are being given the chance to shape the national fight against crime. This is a great opportunity for local people to have their say about what is done well and where improvements can be made.

Herefordshire Community Safety and Drugs Partnership is encouraging members of the public to have their say and take part in the national Crime and Communities review. The survey is very simple to understand, should not take long to complete and because it is available online at www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/crime it can be sent off at the click of a button. The deadline for completed questionnaires is Friday, 11th April 2008.

The review team, which is part of central government, has put together a 'Have Your Say' questionnaire which covers some of the key questions of the review, including:

· Working together to reduce crime.
· Increasing public confidence.
· Policing for local neighbourhoods
· Justice in the community

The review is looking at how local communities are involved in fighting crime and how local communities; the police, local criminal justice agencies and other local partners can best work together to reduce crime, raise community confidence, improve information to local people and lower the fear of crime.

The review is also looking at what makes people get involved in tackling problems in their community.

A key part of the review is to gather together evidence and the voices, experiences and opinions of the public and other interested groups and representatives are key to this.

For further information, please contact Alison Grange on 01432 260658.

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