A COMMUNITY is rallying together in an attempt to secure funding for a project to improve safety at a shopping precinct.

The Community, Energy and Safety project in Easterside, Middlesbrough, has been shortlisted for a M&S fund to help finance plans to install solar panels to power CCTV cameras around the shops as well as improve lighting with new LED lamps.

Sharon Lashley, of Enviro UK Consultants, said: "The scheme will help to make the area safer but in an environmentally friendly way. We are wanting members of the community to vote for the project so that it can go ahead and make a real difference to the area."

Community campaigner June Goodchild believes a successful bid will mean the cost of running the cameras will be drastically reduced.

She said: "It is really important that we can keep these cameras on and anything to reduce the cost of running them will certainly help. The extra lighting will really brighten up the precinct on an evening, so people will be able to go about their business in a much safer way."

To vote for the project visit mandsenergyfund.com/project/28332/