Student crimebusters who went west to work with Canada's Mounties have been praised by one of West Yorkshire's top policemen.

And it is now hoped the community-spirited volunteers' visit to Vancouver will boost police volunteering in Bradford and result in new anti-crime initiatives being launched locally.

The Telegraph & Argus reported earlier this year how nine anti-crime volunteers with the multi-agency Shipley Constituency Anti-Crime Partnership - all students at Shipley College - had gone to British Columbia on a week-long fact-finding mission funded by various companies, organisations and individuals as well as the students themselves.

During their visit to Canada, where volunteering with the police is firmly established, the teenagers worked alongside the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and its volunteers in various areas of Vancouver.

The anti-crime volunteers have now given a presentation on their trip to police officers, sponsors and parents at Shipley College.

Following the presentation, Assistant Chief Constable Greg Wilkinson, said: "These young people have a real sense of responsibility. There was real maturity displayed by them.''

Keighley Community Safety Inspector Nigel Cawthorne said: "The whole concept of volunteering is being looked at by West Yorkshire Police with all the findings from Canada being fed into the process. We're looking at various schemes they found out about over there.''

Volunteer James Perkins, 17, a leisure and tourism student who hopes to eventually join the police himself, said: "We learnt a lot about how the police work with volunteers over in Canada and hope that will now have benefits over here. ''

e-mail: ian.lewis@newsquest.bradford.co.uk