RESIDENTS and agencies have signed a charter to keep a village clean and safe.

The initiative has been launched at Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-Street, which has undergone considerable regeneration in the last five years.

On Saturday (April 12) villagers and organisations including the police, Durham County Council and Cestria Community Housing agreed to do their bit to tackle problems such as dog fouling, litter, and anti-social behaviour.

Local councillors Simon Henig and Linda Marshall have supported the project with £2,000 from their neighbourhood budgets.

The project is being led by Pelton Fell Community Partnership.

Steve Barr, chairman of the community partnership, said: “A lot of villages struggle with the clean, green, safe issues.

“It comes down to litter, rubbish, dog fouling and behaviour that can upset some people.

“It seemed to a few of us who started planning this last March that it was time to put things right.

“We set our sights on a campaign that wouldn’t just last three weeks. All the partners have agreed that we will together on this for three years at the very least.”

Activities planned include a village litter pick and a number of projects including improvements to the path between Waldridge Fell and the Coast to Coast Cycle Path.