How do you choose babysitters?

[thirtysomething]

Just wondering how everyone finds babysitters - if it's someone you don't know well, say a student living near you, would you ask for any references or do you go with your general impressions?

I have used 2 nursery nurses from a local private nursery that want to earn extra cash.
At least they have the relevant childcare exp. I also got refs from her employer and another family she babysits for.

sitters.com is another option although I have never used them

I've only ever used family or people that I've known personally for years.
Just out of interest:

How much do you pay babysitters?
Do you collect and return them if they are young or unable to drive or would you expect their parents to do this?

I pay £5 an hour (up North, not London rates!) and always drive or walk them home if they don't have transport of their own.

Would you be worried about paying a student who lives very close by to babysit if they seem nice?

try \link{http://www.sitters.co.uk\sitters} I'm registered with them as a sitter, all people ive sat for are totally happy with the service, they only register childcare proffesionals so you know your ok, I would be a bit nervous having a 17 yr old student look after mine i must admit

I've used sitters.co.uk and found them fine