AN Ipswich volunteer has scooped a prize in the nation's largest crime prevention awards.Brian Finch, 55, has been named the Urban Award highly commended winner in the Norwich Union National Neighbourhood Watch Awards.

AN Ipswich volunteer has scooped a prize in the nation's largest crime prevention awards.

Brian Finch, 55, has been named the Urban Award highly commended winner in the Norwich Union National Neighbourhood Watch Awards.

Brian will be presented with his Certificate of Commendation by his Local Authority or Police Authority.

The Certificate of Commendation recognises a major contribution in the Urban Award category.

Brian has been a member of Neighbourhood Watch for more then eight years. In this time, he has initiated and led a communications project within Neighbourhood Watch by encouraging the use of e-mail and the Internet amongst co-ordinators. There are now nine co-ordinators on the web an he has taught himself how to build and repair computers as well as train people on how to use them.

John Howell, director general of the National Neighbourhood Watch Association said: "These awards are the highlight of our crime-prevention calendar and acknowledge the endless hours of hard work that tens of thousands of Neighbourhood Watchers put into their local communities every year. The high calibre of the entries reflects the truly outstanding work that some of our members like Brian Finch carry out."

Ben Welsh, director of communications for Norwich Union Insurance, said: "This is the seventh year running that Norwich Union has supported the awards. The awards recognise the work put in by Neighbourhood Watch members across the UK in helping to build safer communities for everyone.

"It is these members at grass roots level who are key to the Association's success and we're delighted to be associated with honouring their hard work."

The Norwich Union Neighbourhood Watch Awards are open to all members from the nation's 155,000 Neighbourhood Watch schemes.