TEST Valley's crime-busting neighbourhood wardens have been saved from the axe.

The 10 wardens - a back up to the police in the fight against anti-social behaviour - faced the boot after the government announced it was withdrawing all funding for neighbourhood warden schemes next year.

However, borough cabinet members have stepped in and unanimously agreed to retain the wardens on permanent contracts and the cash to pay for their services will come via council tax bills.

It's estimated it will cost around £200,000 annually to continue the borough's award-winning scheme. Currently the cost of the scheme is shared 50-50 by the council and central government.

Neighbourhood wardens were introduced to the Test Valley in July, 2002, and have been deployed in Romsey, North Baddesley, Valley Park and Nursling and Rownhams and in the Andover area.

Police have used the wardens as a back-up when patrolling areas targeted by yobs.

Wardens are also involved in community projects aimed at keeping youngsters off the streets - one such scheme is football for kids at Valley Park's Knightwood Leisure Centre.

The wardens' boss, David Smith, said his staff had a key role to play in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.

"The wardens help prevent vandalism and do a vast array of other work including going into schools as part of an education programme. Children are taught not to drop litter and look after the environment. We are recruiting a few youngsters to act as helpers and they will be getting involved in clean-ups, " he said.

"There has been a significant drop in anti-social behaviour where the wardens patrol but this cannot solely be down to the wardens but it helped. We have a brilliant relationship with Romsey police and the wardens work well with the police." Borough cabinet well-being spokeswoman Sandra Hawke said it was essential to retain the wardens in the interest of community safety.

"Placing the neighbourhood wardens on permanent footing demonstrates the council's commitment to creating a safe community. The neighbourhood wardens have established themselves in the communities where they work over the last two years and we are now seeing real benefits in terms of reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and also in the improvements to the sense of community spirit and enthusiasm for local activities," said Mrs Hawke. Since the neighbourhood warden scheme began there has been a 70 per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour and crime levels have fallen by around 30 percent where the officers operate.

Wardens have attended over 1,000 incidents during the last 18 months. These include 280 involving anti-social behaviour and dealt with 180 incidents of fly-tipping, littering and other environmental issues.

Shadow cabinet spokeswoman for well-being, Romsey's Tadburn ward's Sally Leach, who urged the council to retain the wardens earlier this year, said: "Wardens are successful because they are the kind face of authority particularly in their relationship with young people.

" I am really enthused to learn about the recruitment of junior wardens - girls and boys aged 10-14 years in the Andover area, with interest shown in Romsey too. It is important to encourage young people at an early in taking responsibility for looking after their own environment."