Italy has sanctioned the creation of vigilante patrols for the first time since Benito Mussolini's notorious Blackshirt volunteer militia.

A new law gives an official stamp of approval to vigilante groups that have sprung up in several Italian cities, especially in the northern strongholds of the Right-wing, anti-immigrant Northern League.

The vigilantes will be able to alert police to public order offences or suspected criminals but do not have the power of arrest.