TRAFFIC wardens are taking on a new role as North-East community crime busters.

Durham Constabulary decided to dispense with its traffic wardens because parking enforcement has been taken on by councils and private companies.

Now many of the former meter maids and men have decided to retrain.

So instead of writing out parking tickets all day, the newly-trained police community support officers will be playing a key role in keeping County Durham crime free by becoming the eyes and ears of the police.

Among the jobs they will have to do are dealing with truants, abandoned vehicles, helping with house-to-house inquiries, promoting the force's StreetSafe initiative by tackling low-level crime, providing victim support and helping to control crowds.

Twenty support staff take to the streets of County Durham and Darlington this week. The force has received extra Home Office cash to recruit extra officers, taking the total number to 73.

Darlington and Peterlee will each have 12 of the officers. Ten will be based in Stanley, eight in Durham City and a further six in Consett and in Chester-le-Street.

Seaham will be home to four officers while the final 15 are to be deployed at Spennymoor, Newton Aycliffe, Crook, Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle.

Chief Inspector Dave Hogg, of the north area senior command team, said: "We see them as an important part of the extended police family, a vital resource in promoting StreetSafe and integral to our community policing teams.''

A police spokesman said: "When we decided to do away with the traffic warden role, our staff were offered the chance to swap jobs.

"Quite a few took us up on the offer and they are really excited by the prospect of dealing with more than traffic problems.

"They can't wait to get started."