A PROJECT which provides work for offenders, as well as creating a cleaner, greener environment, is proving an outstanding success.

It is hoped the work will reduce the risk of arson and vandalism through the clearance of overgrown and rubbish-strewn eyesore areas.

Now the one-day-a-week pilot scheme is to be extended to six days a week in Easington, County Durham.

It was 12 months ago that Easington District Council joined forces with County Durham Probation Service to provide offenders sentenced to unpaid community work with meaningful projects.

One example of success is at Thorpe Road, near Easington Village, where an area of woodland was becoming a no-go area after gangs of youths began using the rough undergrowth as a cover to drink alcohol.

In their most demanding task to date, teams from the project lopped back trees, cut out weeds and overgrowth, and generally cleared the site as well as pathways running through the area.

Organisers say the area is now completely visible from the road and the problem of youths gathering there has been overcome.

Keith Parkinson, environmental health and licensing manager for the council, said: "The initial pilot has proved extremely successful, with more than 2,600 hours of unpaid work being carried out.

"As well as making a significant difference to the appearance of a number of areas in the district, the partnership also provides a useful and very visible way for offenders to carry out their community reparation.''

Yesterday, the extended scheme was launched by the chairwoman of the council, Councillor Margaret Nugent, and the chief officer of the county's Probation Service, Russell Bruce.

They joined the first group of offenders to take part in the extended scheme as they started clearing a former garage site in Oak Road, Easington Village.

Mr Bruce said: "Local residents will not only benefit from the work carried out, they will also see the effectiveness of community sentences and how offenders pay back for the offences they have committed.''

The site in Oak Road is one of a number of areas across the district to be identified for improvement through the scheme.