A TASK FORCE set up to tackle a village's crime and social problems is proving a huge success, according to officials.

The group was established six months ago after Durham county councillor Alan Barker raised concerns over long-term issues affecting Easington Colliery.

He highlighted under-age drinking, low police staffing levels, problems caused by absentee landlords and a rise in arson incidents.

The police and fire brigade, local councillors, residents, and representatives of agencies including Easington District Council, then met to discuss possible solutions, at the first Easington Colliery anti-social behaviour conference.

The partnership has since made progress on several fronts, including:

* Appointing an extra beat officer, PC Paul Hughes, to work alongside PC Malcolm Pugh, as well as recruiting more community street wardens.

* Arranging visits by the anti-social behaviour unit to every off-licence in the district to remind licensees of their legal duties. Supervised teenage volunteers also made test purchases to ensure alcohol was not being sold to under-18s.

* Clearing rubbish from potential arson attack sites.

* Securing empty houses more quickly and launching a vehicle amnesty scheme to speed up the removal of untaxed cars which might be susceptible to arson attacks.

* Introducing a private landlord scheme to promote good practice and deal with problem tenants.

* Landscaping an area of Manisty Terrace, where teenage gangs were bothering elderly people, to discourage them from gathering there.

In a positive move for young people, funding has been secured for a youth shelter to be built on the skate park in Oak Road.

Other initiatives under way include the setting up of a skills centre and employment of a funding officer to seek finances for community safety and regeneration projects.

There are also plans to create a Shopwatch scheme and to introduce security cameras to protect businesses and shops in Seaside Lane.

Coun Barker said that during the past six months, "real and visible improvements" had been made.

He said: "While some problems will obviously not disappear overnight, I feel certain real progress will continue to be made."

Easington district commander, Chief Superintendent Trevor Watson, said: "I am delighted with the results of all the hard work carried out by the group so far."