The future of Wear Valley's street warden scheme has been secured.

Funding was due to run out for the project next month, but now it has been announced that not only will it continue - but it will also be extended.

The announcement was made on Monday by Wear Valley District Council that £67,500 would be granted to expand the scheme to a further six wardens to cover the whole of the Wear Valley.

This grant is good news for police in Crook and Willington who will reap the benefits of street wardens as they gain more ears and eyes in the community.

George Ledger, Community Inspector, said: "We are very happy with this news. It gives us the opportunity to widen the police family in the Crook and Willington area.

"The street wardens have worked very closely with the police in Bishop Auckland and have been successful as eyes and ears of the community."

The award-winning warden scheme was due to run out in March and there has been months of speculation as to whether the council would provide more money to keep the vital service.

The issue of street wardens was discussed at last week's Policy and Strategic Development Committee meeting at Crook Civic Centre.

The manager of the scheme, Roger Ward said: "We have been here for two-and-a-half years and funding was running out, so to fund it further is great, but to actually extend the scheme is fantastic."

Mr Ward said he had already got together with police and they planned to kick start the scheme by targeting Crook library in the town centre and Hope Street. He said: "Library staff and residents of Hope Street have a problem with youths that are hanging around at night and this is what we aim to tackle."

Michael Laing, district council housing director, said priority had been given to the scheme and this year they had put in £240,000 to keep it up and running. He said: "I am absolutely delighted, it is a great scheme and it is what the people want."