BURY'S youngest Community Safety Wardens are already leading the way as they patrol the borough's streets.

Kelly Howarth and Christopher Shenton are the first 18-year-olds to join Bury's "friendly ambassadors on the street".

And they are also trailblazing the way by studying for a new national training qualification.

The pair are among the first in the UK to be enrolled into the National Apprenticeship Foundation Training Initiative. Over the next year, they work towards obtaining a City & Guilds NVQ Level II in customer service, together with other certified qualifications.

Kelly and Christopher joined during the fifth intake of recruits. Like their fellow wardens, they will patrol all six towns in the borough, travelling by Metrolink, First Bus and the East Lancashire Railway. Bury's warden scheme has been hailed as a big success, both by other councils in Britain and others abroad.

They are recruited from the dole queue and given a 12-month contract, after which the majority use their skills and increased confidence to go into full-time work.

Mr Ged McGee, community safety warden manager, added: "Chris and Kelly are pioneers because of their age and their training.

"During the 12 months ahead they will cover a range of work from incident reporting to administration, customer service, ensuring the safety of the public and team building.

"Already they have basic certification in first-aid, basic health and safety, plus working with disabled people. In May, along with the other wardens, they will undertake a four-day first-aid course which will given them a nationally recognised qualification which is valid for three years.

"It is also good to see the pair among the first in the UK to be given the opportunity to achieve the NVQ against the new national standard and we all wish them luck and are sure that they will do well."