PLANS to put community wardens on the streets of the New Forest are a step closer to becoming reality after extensive research was completed.

The proposed scheme aims to reduce crime, disorder and nuisance behaviour and improve the quality of life for residents.

The patrolling wardens would spend the vast majority of their working time within the community chosen for them to serve.

The research paper, conducted by New Forest District Council's crime and disorder panel, outlines two alternatives for a two-year pilot scheme. They are:

Six wardens operating across Hythe and Dibden and New Milton, costing more than £210,000 in its first year to set up and run.

Two wardens operating in just Hythe and Dibden, at a cost of more than £96,000 in its first year.

The report reads: "Option one proposes to evaluate the effectiveness of wardens in two communities that do not have CCTV coverage and which have significant levels of low-level crime and nuisance behaviour, as demonstrated on a statistical basis."

Explaining option two, it says: "This centre has been selected because the parish council are actively supporting the scheme with an offer of office accommodation free of charge and an offer of a significant revenue contribution."

Civic bosses will be presented with the findings at a New Forest District Council Cabinet meeting tomorrow.

The paper recommends that they should bear both options in mind when setting their budget for 2005-06.

The proposed wardens would have no powers of enforcement because it is believed it could prejudice their ability to build up trust in the community.

Their responsibilities would include building relationships with younger people to improve their behaviour, encouraging people to report vandalism and anti-social behaviour, and working with traders and residents to tackle any day-to-day problems in the area.

The wardens would also liaise closely with housing associations, businesses, police and other enforcement agencies.

The wardens would be employed by the district council and would be completely separate from warden schemes operated by the county council and Hampshire Police.

If one of the pilot schemes does go ahead, wardens should be working in the community by May 2005.

Similar schemes already operate in areas including Southampton, Test Valley, Winchester, Portsmouth and Basingstoke.