The Newham Recorder has teamed up with police in an effort to combat street crime in the East London borough, by offering free personal attack alarms to readers.

The paper linked up with the local police crime prevention unit to get the alarms to people who might need them most.

Crime Watch reporter Nick Jury revealed on the pages of the Recorder that he had 50 to give away - and was swamped with requests.

A second shipment from police was also snapped up, and a third supply is now being despatched from the newsroom.

The alarms are attached to a key ring and can release a 140-decibel noise when triggered.

Many of the requests came from pensioners, some of whom had been mugged before and others who were nervous about leaving their homes.

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