ONE of the first projects to be carried out as part of £1m environmental improvement package is helping to reduce the fear of crime in a County Durham village.

The Durham County Council project earmarked to help small or isolated communities is providing dusk-to-dawn security lighting to vulnerable households in parts of Wingate.

The lights, which have been installed by a local electrical contractor, are low energy fittings which provide efficient lighting at a reasonable cost.

One of the residents to benefit from the scheme is Elizabeth Purvis, of Dawson Road in the village, who said the lighting project was an excellent idea.

She said: "Our house backs on to an open space and it is a real worry for us at night that we might be broken into. The new lights are helping to deter crime."

Local county councillor Len O'Donnell said the scheme was helping people to feel more secure in their homes.

"This initiative has been carried by the Hutton Henry, Wingate and Station Town Partnership, a very active local community group which is responsive to local people's needs and aspirations," he said.

The County Durham Urban and Rural Renaissance Initiative was launched last year to pump about £20m into improving the physical environment of several major town and village centres.

When Durham County Council agreed to contribute £5m to the initiative, its members were keen to ensure that the smallest projects did not miss out, so it reserved £1m of funding specifically for minor neighbourhood schemes.

To date, funding for about 20 projects has been agreed and nominations from further projects will be sought in January.

Coun O'Donnell said: "The provision of safe and secure local neighbourhoods is a key objective of the County Durham Urban Rural Renaissance Initiative and the county council's financial contribution has been a great help in delivering this particular project and working towards that overall target."