SAFETY response teams have been placed on alert for illegal bonfires in east Cleveland in the run up to November 5.

Community safety wardens from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, the police and fire brigade will inform the area's security camera control room of any potential fires and a cleansing team will respond as quickly as possible to remove any fuel.

Residents are being urged to use a dedicated freephone hotline to combat the misuse of fireworks and associated anti-social behaviour.

The phone line can be called from Tuesday until November 15 and will deal with information on people building bonfires, the sale of illegal fireworks, the misuse of fireworks and the illegal sale of alcohol and cigarettes.

Last year, the freephone line received more than 7,000 calls and its success helped Redcar and Cleveland become the only district in the Cleveland Police area to show a year-on-year reduction of Bonfire Night disorder.

The freephone number is 0800 7311 675. People can report the sale of fireworks to children by calling trading standards officials on (01642) 771201.

Free organised displays on Wednesday, November 5, take place at Redcar Racecourse, King George V Playing Fields, at Guisborough, Kingsley Road, in Grangetown, and Skinningrove