Police have unveiled a new weapon in the fight against crime - a computer game about saving a kebab.

The Home Office has launched an e-mail campaign targeting thousands of students as they start the new university term.

The e-mail, sent to more than 750,000 National Union of Students (NUS) members, contains a link to a new website, featuring the interactive game 'Danny Timpson's Kebabathon'.

Police say the game, where players have to get a keyless Danny home from the pub without losing his kebab, has a serious crime prevention message.

Common sense

The game illustrates how easy it would be for a burglar to get into a house.

The Home Office developed the game and website with the help of the NUS in a bid to reduce student crime rates.

The Minister for Crime Reduction and Southampton MP John Denham lent his support to the campaign.

He said: "Three times as many students own high-value goods like laptops and mobiles as they did ten years ago and we know that most students that do get burgled live in relatively unsecured properties.

"So, the website is a common sense way of giving them the simple advice they need that will help them secure themselves and their belongings."

Verity Coyle, vice-president for welfare at the NUS, said: "This is the first time we've used our substantial online capabilities to launch a viral campaign and we hope that the 'Kebabathon' will encourage students to make good use of the advice on the website."