A CAMPAIGN to clamp down on troublemakers in a village and improve the quality of life for its residents was launched this week.

Durham Constabulary's Streetsafe initiative in Sacriston will combine the forces of a range of agencies to target anti-social behaviour, drug dealers, low-level crime, vandalism and other issues affecting the quality of life.

Chester-le-Street community inspector Paul Anderson said officers held a series of meetings with the residents to identify the problems they considered have a major impact upon their village.

He said: "After consulting with other agencies about support they could give, we devised a plan of action which will be rolled out over the coming weeks."

The fire and rescue service, Chester-le-StreetDistrict Council, DurhamCounty Council, the DVLA, the Youth Engagement Service and schools will join the police in implementing measures and organising community activities and events over the next three months.

Sacriston beat officer Ellis Hall said: "Police officers will be taking part in a number of operations,high-visibility patrols and crime prevention events."

The role of other agencies will involve teaching about drugs awareness and anti- social behaviour, advice on security of premises, improvements to street lighting, truancy sweeps and advice on preventing fires in the home.

Insp Anderson said: "There will be something happening each day throughout the duration of the project.

"We hope by working with residents they will feel safer and take greater responsibility for their own community."

District council community services director Ian Broughton said: "This forms part of our urban renaissance plan for Sacriston. The district council is investing £100,000 on upgrading Front Street, while the county council is making a further £45,000 for new street lighting."

A property would also be made available by the council for use as a community house, he added.

Durham fire station manager Peter Hewitson said: "We have had problems with children on the bottom estate starting rubbish fires and setting light to abandoned cars.

"Vehicles with no registered keeper will be taken away and we will also be holding days where children will help collect rubbish on the estates."

Durham Police Authority chairman Coun Anne Wright, who lives in Sacriston, said: "We are delighted that Sacriston has got Streetsafe in the village.

"At least our problems have been acknowledged and we have all agencies working together to make the village a safer and better place in the long term."