YOUNG people and residents rolled up their sleeves at the weekend to help make their neighbourhood a better place to live.

Volunteers in the Berwick Hills area of Middlesbrough answered the call from the Stronger Together in East Middlesbrough (Stem) group to clean up Rothbury Road on Saturday.

Stem community worker Elaine Carter received an enthusiastic response when she knocked on doors to try to get people involved.

She said: "The response from residents and agencies has been fantastic.

"Residents have shown that community spirit is alive and well in Berwick Hills, and that there is a will to make things change for the better.

"I hope this is just the start of residents becoming more involved in community life and seeing that their actions can make a difference."

The day began with a garden clean-up, while young volunteers picked up litter from the street and around shops. Members of the Community Payback scheme painted bollards and removed graffiti, and the Eagle pub received a coat of paint.

Resident Val Young said: "We want our road to look good, and are happy to do our bit towards achieving this.

"We are glad the Stem community worker knocked on our doors and suggested we could pull together to sort it out."

The operation was supported by a number of agencies, including Erimus Housing, Middlesbrough Council, Cleveland Police, Safe in Tees Valley, Teesside Probation Service and the Youth Inclusion Project.