The desire to deter thefts from the home and garden is sparking a trend for gravel, according to decorative aggregates supplier Deco-Pak.
Gravel has traditionally been chosen by homeowners for its variety of colour choices, natural aesthetics and ease of maintenance. However, police now frequently advise homeowners to install gravel paths and driveways, especially around the house and by the garden shed. The reason: burglars look for low risk, easy targets - and the crunchy sound they make on gravel presents too high a risk of getting caught.

Deco-Pak general manager Rod Slater said: "All of our decorative aggregates provide consumers with the crunchy effect, especially bestsellers Moonstone and Golden Flint, which are two I would recommend as being most effective.

"Retailers can also advise their customers of our home delivery service to encourage up-selling quantities with the benefit of a richer crunching sound and therefore greater security."

Deco-Pak also says that laying aggregates on driveways improves the value of the home, a message that is being reinforced by what are known as 'crunchy gravel programmes' such as Downton Abbey.