A COMMUNITY scheme has proved so successful it is to be extended throughout Easington district.

The award-winning Street Wardens Scheme has been running in Easington Colliery, Horden and in the west of the district for the past three years.

The project was initially launched to tackle anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood problems.

Over its three-year span, the pilot scheme has helped reduce instances of arson, abandoned vehicles and problems such as dog fouling, fly tipping and littering.

The wardens have also carried out intervention work in neighbourhoods as well as supporting the district's skate park project.

Now, thanks to the availability of extra funding, the initiative is to be extended and a further ten wardens have been recruited.

To introduce the schemes, teams are preparing to visit Murton and Hawthorn from today until Friday.

The wardens will be patrolling the streets, visiting residents in their homes and calling in at shops, community centres, libraries and schools to explain their role and the aims of the initiative.

They will visit Seaham and Dawdon between Monday, November 15, and Friday, November 19.

On Monday, November 22, until Friday, November 26, the team visit Peterlee and travel to Blackhall, Blackhall Rocks, Hesleden, Monk Hesleden, High Hesleden and Castle Eden from Monday, November 29, until Friday, December 3.

Councillor George Patterson, executive member for the environment on Easington District Council, said yesterday: "The street warden schemes have been a huge success and we are delighted to be able to expand them to cover the whole of the district.

"We believe residents will benefit greatly from these dedicated officers who will help to improve the quality of life and the environment.''

The move to extend the scheme comes only days after the initial project was awarded the quality mark by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's Neighbourhood Renewal Unit.