SCHOOL children in Watford are taking the law into their own hands under a new initiative aimed at wiping out distraction burglaries.

Pupils from Francis Combe School and Community College have written, designed and produced a leaflet containing advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of the crime and are distributing it to schools across hertfordshire.

The leaflet educates fellow students on the dangers of distraction burglaries in the hope they will pass on their knowledge to family members and friends.

The leaflet includes a cut-out-and-keep section for elderly people, where students fill in contact details for local trustworthy utility company representatives and handymen, along with the local trading standards number.

Kelly Smith, a student at Francis Combe, said: "It was good fun working on the project and it was even more rewarding when we saw the final leaflet ready to be sent out to other schools.

"We designed the flyer using text message language and also included a case study using Dot Cotton from EastEnders.

"We hope that this will appeal to other teenagers across the county and make them read the information."

Geoff Carr, the deputy headmaster at Francis Combe and chairman of Watford and Three Rivers Crime Prevention Panel, said: "The leaflet formed part of our activity week.

"Pupils came up with hundreds of ideas and really got involved in the project, learning about the problems of distraction burglaries at the same time.

"The students who worked on the project began to understand the seriousness of this type of crime and the trauma victims go through."

PC Kim Boot, youth crime reduction officer, said: "Research shows young people can often be more effective in warning their elderly relatives about issues of crime.

"The finished leaflet is fantastic and a credit to the school."