YOU may be used to seeing the odd river boat or perhaps a couple of ducks but the sight of the police cruising down the river may be a little more unusual.

However, residents surrounding the Weaver in Northwich will be getting used to it soon with the launch of a Waterways Watch, which will see river patrols and biking bobbies as a common site along the waterside.

The scheme has been launched in a partnership between British Waterways, Cheshire Police, businesses, local authorities and volunteers and is aimed at promoting enjoyment by cutting anti-social behaviour.

The organisers hope the scheme will increase accessibility of waterways by introducing a physical presence to the area in the form of the community support officers, mobile police patrols and neighbourhood Waterways Watch groups.

Police have also used a new system to help provide swifter responses when they are needed by numbering bridges and access points to canals so locations can be identified quickly.

Duncan Davenport, Waterways Watch chairman, said they hope it will be a community-based scheme. He said: 'Summer and the school holidays brings challenges for parents and agencies in trying to ensure young members of our community enjoy their time off as safely and responsibly as possible.

'It is a dynamic partnership with its roots firmly in the community and a dedicated approach to maintaining the freedom of everyone to benefit from the attractions our countryside has to offer. It has the right blend of neighbourhood support, police management skills and business resources to make it work.

'A raft of measures including river patrols, police officers on mountain bikes and community watch will be common features along our waterways this summer. We are confident this range of measures will send a clear message to everyone in our communities that the 30km of the Weaver Navigation are there for everyone to access and enjoy.'