Nearly 3000 students will be now be able to look out for one another and crack down on crime with the extension of a neighbourhood watch initiative to include High Wycombe’s university.

Wycombe District Neighbourhood Watch Association (WDNWA) has extended its network of advice and alerts for students living in High Wycombe, who the group say can be vulnerable to thefts and crime.

It will be run by the Volunteering team in the Students’ Union at Bucks New University, with a view to rolling it out to students living elsewhere in the district soon.

Mark Sweeney, vice president of student involvement at BNU SU, said: "This is a fantastic initiative between Bucks Students’ Union and the Wycombe District Neighbourhood Watch Association and will enable us to ensure that our members feel safe and secure in their homes during their time at Bucks."

The WDNWA has grown in recent years, with schemes covering more than 25,000 households across areas including Marlow, Bourne End, Hazlemere and High Wycombe.

And now students staying in High Wycombe will also receive alerts and information to help keep them safe from crime.

A spokesman for neighbourhood watch said: "Despite the relative safety of our district for students, they are often targeted by thieves and it is hoped that this scheme will help keep them as safe as possible."