One of the new characters created by Viz founder Steve Donald

Steve Donald, who founded the Tyneside-based comic with his brother Chris, has created a clutch of new cartoon characters focusing on the risks to students from crime.

He has joined forces with Newcastle's Community Safety Partnership and the city's two universities to come up with eye-catching characters for the campaign - called To-Letsville.

The characters will feature in monthly cartoons as well an interactive web game on their own website.

To kickstart the campaign and reduce the likelihood of any start of term burglaries, 40,000 security marking packs are being given out on campus by Northumbria Police's crime prevention officers and community beat managers at Newcastle University and the University of Northumbria.

Amy Collins, of Northumbria student union, said: "In terms of crime, particularly burglary, students are some of the most vulnerable people in society.

"Through the To-Letsville campaign we are trying to educate students on how to protect themselves and their homes, but using something a little bit different, and more appealing.

'Practical measures'

"That is why we commissioned Viz artist Steve Donald to design the graphics.

"The hapless student characters will experience everything a typical student would, from the threat of burglary to out-of-control parties."

Cate Watson, of the union society of Newcastle University, said: "This is just the start, we are also looking at more practical measures to promote better community relations."

Councillor Barry Phillipson, chairman of the Newcastle Community Safety Partnership, said: "Students are very important to the city and it is everyone's responsibility to ensure that their time in Newcastle is not spoiled by becoming a victim of crime.

"It is great to have been able to fund this project and to have the opportunity for the universities and the community safety partnership, which includes the police and the city council, to work with the students themselves to tackle a problem which affects us all."