How to reduce fear of crime in a community is being tackled in many ways around the country, but across the border from Warwickshire a rather unusual approach is being adopted.

Hundreds of knitted items have been used to decorate trees and lampposts in an area of Leicester to help make the area feel more ‘cosy’.

According to BBC News website:

Ms Bilby, a senior lecturer in criminology at Northumbria University, said: “I think that making an area look cosier certainly makes an area feel safer.

“If you see something that makes you smile, that makes you think that other people have enjoyed being in that space and have done something funny, something silly in that place, then that’s going to change your perception about what it is to be in Bede Park.”

Many of the decorations were strung up as part of a community event on Saturday.

They were made by schools and community groups including the Knitting Guerillas of Birstall.

Ms Bilby added: “As we all know more officers on the beat doesn’t actually have a massive impact on crime rates in [an] area.

“More officers on the beat plus community involvement – community engagement, making sure that people feel part of the community and that the community belongs to them – perhaps that’s a better way of making an area feel safer.”

For more information and great photos please see: The Knitting Guerillas of Birstall.