REUNITING a lost boy scout with his group is just one way street wardens are helping the Dorset community.

Four months after the scheme was introduced in the county, wardens have reported incidents of indecent exposure and anti-social behaviour including youngsters putting fireworks in post boxes to the police.

They have also reported incidents of old tyres and trainers being thrown over electricity cables to Southern Electric and helped with the identification and arrest of shoplifters.

Under the Purbeck Community Warden Scheme six wardens patrol the streets in Purbeck to help police to reduce crime and increase public reassurance.

The scheme is a part of a £50-million national programme to cut crime and is a joint initiative between Dorset Police and Purbeck District Council funded by them and the Home Office.

Nickie Stockley and Mark Wodarek-Black, wardens for the Bovington, Wool and Bere Regis area, have reported information about indecent exposures and problem behaviour at a popular picnic area given to them by the public.

Scheme manager Tony Weatherill said: "The wardens are helping in many ways to increase reassurance and reduce crime. They are not replacing police officers but they help tackle low-level crime. They are also seen to be very approachable which means information they receive can be passed on to the police."

They have also reported to Southern Electric problems of old tyres and trainers being thrown over electric cables and a gas leak in an empty house.

And they have helped with rubbish clearance as well as the removal of a dam in the river at Bere Regis.

Nickie Stockley said: "The reception has been fantastic, with people in the community as interested in us as we are about them."

Lorraine Taylor and Toni Biondic, wardens for Morden, Lytchett Minster, Lytchett Matravers and Upton, have dealt with a wide range of issues including informing police about youngsters putting fireworks in post boxes and patrolling these problem areas.

Samuel Goom and Michael Whitcombe, wardens for the Swanage, Worth Matravers and Langton Matravers areas, have helped in the identification of a shoplifter as well as help find the owners of lost property and they gave first aid treatment to someone who fell in the street.

Mr Weatherill said: "Samuel and Michael helped reunite a lost Boy Scout who was on a day trip to Swanage. He got separated from his group and they found him looking lost and confused.

"But after asking him some questions they located his group at Swanage Railway."

He added that the wardens also make sure the area they work in is clean and tidy by collecting small amounts of litter on their patrols.