A North-East environmental project designed to combat social problems in deprived areas could become a blueprint for similar schemes all over the country.

Environments through Communities (EtC) was launched in Shiney Row, near Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, yesterday.

A partnership between the Countryside Agency, which invested £80,000 in the scheme, the Great North Forest, One NorthEast and Shiney Advice and Resource Project (Sharp), it could provide the answers to some of the social problems in the community.

Through music projects, bike recycling schemes, woodland walks and woodcraft activities, EtC will encourage local people of all ages to change their environment for the better.

In an area where one in three men are classed as permanently sick, male unemployment is at 16.7 per cent and nearly half the families are without a car, Shiney Row is typical of many similar semi-rural communities in the region.

Chris Growcott, community projects manager with the Great North Forest, said: "It's a very exciting initiative, which could provide some answers to issues facing rural areas and former coalfield areas across Britain.

"Already, people in other areas of the Great North Forest are learning lessons from the work being carried out by EtC.

He said: "The Great North Forest has been working on social exclusion issues for the last ten years, so we were delighted to learn that it had been chosen as a national pilot project by the Countryside Agency.

"Issues such as jobs, health, education and youth issues are all inextricably linked to the quality of the environment, and this scheme will engage people of all ages and from all walks of life in a wide range of projects.