EFFORTS to keep part of the North-East clean have been boosted by the launch of an environmental squad.
The three members of the squad, a joint initiative involving Hartlepool Borough Council and the town's New Deal for Communities (NDC) regeneration programme, has a range of duties.
Working in the NDC area, the team's responsibilities include street cleaning, horticulture works, removal of fly-tipped waste, clearing rubbish from empty properties and graffiti removal.
The team -Graeme Renwick, Geoff Wilkinson and John Bassam -is complementing the work of an existing squad, which has proved to be a success over the past two-and-a-half-years.
NDC funding worth about £200,000 is being spent on the new initiative.
Council spokeswoman Denise Ogden said: "The existing environmental squad has had a positive impact on the NDC area, and we are delighted to be involved in the launch of this second team.
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