YOUNGSTERS in Middlesbrough did their best to help clean up a local play area yesterday.

They joined some of Middlesbrough Council's new street wardens to tidy up the Laycock Gardens area.

The Clean Sweep project was organised after two of the wardens, Steve Johnstone and Craig Lindsay, were on their rounds and got talking to some young people about ways to improve the neighbourhood. A range of sponsors provided equipment, plants and flowers.

Bill Thompson, who manages the street wardens project, said: "It is great to see young people being so keen to put something back into the community and also highlights how the street warden project can tackle issues of local concern.