AN anti-graffiti drive is underway in Hartlepool in a bid to improve the town's image.

Hartlepool Borough Council has brokered a deal with BT and NTL to combat graffiti and fly-posting on telephone junction boxes.

The partnership sees the companies supplying specialist materials to treat the boxes, with work carried out by young offenders. The offenders come from the town and are subject to reparation orders after being found guilty of criminal damage.

Craig Thelwell, the council's environmental action manager, said: "There are an estimated 4,000 telephone junction boxes around the town and many are eyesores, covered either in graffiti or fly posters.

"This scheme involves re-painting the vandalised boxes and then applying a special anti-graffiti coating. We are told the coating can last for up to 22 years and any further graffiti can be cleaned off with a mild detergent.

"I would like to thank both BT and NTL for their co-operation on this scheme."