WEALDSTONE now has a “neighbourhood champion” on every street more than a year after the scheme was approved.

The previous Tory administration launched the initiative, based on neighbourhood watch, in November 2009 with the aim of having one volunteer on each road in the borough to report problems to Harrow Council.

The system was intended to save the authority time and money while improving the service given to residents.

Wealdstone has become the first area to realise the original vision as the total number of champions reaches 1,000.

Councillor Phil O'Dell, responsible for environment and community safety, said: “Harrow has a long tradition of community pride coupled with a strong active citizenship base which is one of our greatest strengths – from community cleans ups to the elderly helping young people in our schools improve their literacy.”

PCSO Jules Grant, from Wealdstone Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: “The important thing for us is that we know we have one point of contact in the street.

“If there’s a problem we know who to talk to and they know they can come to us too. It makes our job easier and more effective.”