A CLEAN-UP of Close House and Eldon Lane that aims to curb crime and anti-social behaviour was launched this week.

Wear Valley District Council has been given a Government grant to complete a pilot improvement scheme in areas classed as Designated Renewal Areas.

Close House and Eldon Lane have had problems with absentee landlords, resulting in rundown properties.

They have also experienced problems with anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, arson, burglaries and abandoned vehicles.

Teams of Wear Valley District Council street wardens and police will be patrolling the area all week, installing security cameras to track criminal activity, cleaning up rubbish areas and removing abandoned vehicles.

Police roadshows will be held today and tomorrow in both areas, to show residents what is being done and discussing crime prevention tactics.

Chris Walton, tenancy enforcement manager for Wear Valley District Council said: "The Government initiative was to focus on individual areas, during this week we are sending down extra street wardens, police and cleaners and our aim is to make sure the area becomes cleaner, greener and safer.

"We are installing security cameras so, hopefully, we may catch some criminal activity and prosecute the individuals.

"If the scheme is deemed a success, we will carry on doing similar projects in the future."

A resident from Stanley Street, Close House, who did not want to be named, said: "All the residents are sick of all the anti-social behaviour in these areas and it's about time something was done."

A resident of Spencer Street, in Eldon Lane, said: "It is about time something was done in this area because people are becoming increasingly scared of leaving their properties because they are intimidated by the vandals outside."