SWINDON will soon become home to an assessment centre for National Vocational Qualifications for street and neighbourhood wardens.

The news comes eight months after the launch of the town's own street warden scheme.

Nine wardens and an administrator currently serve the Parks and Walcot areas, acting mainly as a deterrent to neighbourhood crime and anti-social behaviour.

Their work has been hailed as a great success in two Government reports.

The NVQ scheme for wardens is registered with the Security Industry Training Organisation, which is organising them on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

If successful, the assessment centre scheme will be used as an example for others to follow.

Coun Mavis Childs, Lead member for housing services, at Swindon Council, said: "I am really pleased and very proud of the work that the street wardens have done to date.

"They are beginning to make a real difference and many people who come to my surgery comment on them regularly and the good work that they are doing.

"I am pleased to see that Central Government appreciates the hard work and effort that the wardens themselves are putting in. It is very good to be at the forefront and leading the way. This is where I believe Swindon should be and I am pleased that things are going in the right direction for us.

"We hope that the NVQ assessment centre will be fully operational by mid-May, and this will be the first in the country. I look forward to the time in the near future when we see street wardens working in all areas.''