A £50,000 GRANT has been given to residents in a Teesside town to install alleygates in a bid to cut crime.

The money has been granted by Hartlepool Borough Council for gates in Wilson Street, Grange Road, Hutton Avenue, Melrose Street, Peebles Avenue, Earl Street, Howard Street, Percy Street, Jesmond Road, Hart Lane, Barton Avenue and Wolviston Road.

Alison Mawson, the council's community safety strategy officer, said: "When alleygates are put up, back street crime can be displaced into neighbouring areas, so it is important to have a rolling of alleygate installation to try to stop this happening.

"This additional £50,000 will enable us to put up alleygates in such areas, which wouldn't otherwise have qualified for funding."

The latest cash boost follows approval of an identical amount by the council's cabinet last year that was used to provide alleygates in the Jackson, Stranton and Rift House wards.

Mayor Stuart Drummond, a member of Hartlepool council grants committee, said: "The success of alleygates in helping to prevent unauthorised access to back streets across the town is well documented.

"They are playing a key role in reducing the risk of homes being burgled."