Police are hoping to make contact with farmers in the Helston and Lizard area over the coming days during a week of action.

As part of the national Wildlife and Rural Crime Week of Action the rural policing team is hoping to encourage farmers, who are often hard to reach, to sign up to DCAlerts.

This is a free two-way messaging system operated by Devon and Cornwall Police, which helps officers connect with communities.

It tells people what is happening in their area, including crimes taking place and appeals for information, as well as allows the public to respond directly with information to the police.

Anyone can sign up via alerts.dc.police.uk to receive news about where they live.

In a bid to promote it further, PCSO Julia Berry will be visiting Helston's Wynnstay store - formerly Cornwall Farmers - this Thursday.

Here she will be chatting with customers to raise awareness of the scheme and sign people up to it.

Joining her will be Melanie Pettit, a police volunteer that has been helping in the Helston station since July.

Also spreading the message to farmers further afield will be the Wynnstay company rep, who will share information during visits, and Coast to Coast Farm Vets will run a piece about the scheme in its next newsletter.

As part of the week of action, police will also be hoping to share with farmers the importance of keeping a record of serial numbers on farm machinery and tools.

This is so that if an item is stolen it can be traced back to the correct person.

A website called immobilise.com allows people to register property free of charge and it is this site that police will use to check if items that are found have been stolen.

The rural crime week runs from October 6 to 13, with police forces all over the country taking part.