COMMUNITY-MINDED volunteers from an east Durham disability charity are helping to combat vandalism across the Easington district.

East Durham Homes (EDH) is working in partnership with the Shaw Trust, which provides work and training opportunities for disabled and disadvantaged people.

And now disabled volunteers from the charity are helping EDH estate assistant John Green to carry out routine maintenance on estates in Seaham, Murton and South Hetton.

The first scheme to undertaken by the group is painting fences in the Watkin and Turnbull Crescents areas of Murton.

EDH regularly replaces or repairs missing fencing and palings, but even though the new wood is specially treated, the railings are often targeted by vandals for graffiti.

By painting the fencing, organisers believe that itwill be less likely to come under vandal attacks.

Ian Vickers, estate management co-ordinator, said: "By working in partnership with the Shaw Trust, we are not only helping to reduce criminal damage, but also giving the volunteers the chance to gain some extra confidence by working with new people.''