UP TO £200,000 is to be pumped into tackling anti-social behaviour in a former pit village.

The William Street - A Place for Our People project aims to put an end to the yob culture blighting the lives of residents in South Moor, near Stanley.

It is part of the Gate It initiative, run by environmental group Groundwork West Durham.

Kath Ivens, project officer for Groundwork, said: "We are looking at anti-social behaviour and will come up with a plan to design out areas that are causing those types of problems and issues."

One of trouble hot spot is two benches in William Street that Groundwork itself installed several years ago, as part of environmental improvements. Ms Ivens said: "Ironically, they are causing a problem now, because young people are hanging around there."

Other proposals include making general landscape and building improvements, such as better street lighting.

Two consultation events will take place over the next week, to find out what both residents and local youths want to see done in the William Street and Jane Street areas.

Ms Ivens said: "We will be working with young people to find out why they are hanging around and look at how we can help them, to make sure they get something out of this."

The consultation has been funded with a £10,000 grant from the Home Office's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit.

The first open day took place on Wednesday in Greenland Community Infant School in South Moor.

The second is specifically for young people and will be held next Monday, from 3.30pm until 6.30pm, in the Spice Bus on William Street.

Officers hope to have a firm set of plans by March, when they can start bidding for the grant funding needed to carry out the work.

While costs are a long way from finalised, they estimate it will take around £200,000 to put everything in place.

For further details on the project, contact Ms Ivens on (01207) 693202.