HARTLEPOOL’S Mayor Stuart Drummond will be stretching his vocal chords in a light-hearted attempt to spread the crime prevention message.

He will record a song at The Studio in Tower Street on Monday March 17 with pupils from St John Vianney Primary School as part of a major town-wide schools music project.

The song - entitled Safer Hartlepool - will be sung in a Reggae style and highlight decreasing crime rates in the town and the work of the Safer Hartlepool Partnership, which is chaired by the Mayor.

Mayor Drummond said: "We are constantly looking for new ways to grab people's attention and get across key messages about crime prevention and community safety. I'd like to congratulate all of the children who have worked so hard on this project.

"Personally, I'm delighted to have been invited to help record the song, but I hope people realise what they are letting themselves in for!"

Liz Carter from The Studio, the not-for-profit organisation that is co-ordinating the music project, said: "It's great that we have a Mayor who is so passionate about keeping crime down across the town. The music project is proving really worthwhile, with over 1,000 pupils taking part and producing songs for their respective schools."

A CD featuring the Mayor's song and songs from the 29 other schools involved in the project will be unveiled at an official launch event in April.