A PROMISED clean-up of a rundown community is to be carried out by council work teams on Monday.

Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon recently pledged a blitz on rubbish in the town's St Hilda's neighbourhood.

He said: "We want to show the people of St Hilda's that we care about their community and want to play our part in making its streets and its environment cleaner and safer.

On a visit to the decaying neighbourhood, he decided that a more fundamental revamp of the area cannot wait for a master plan to be drawn up, which would have incorporated St Hilda's.

He said at the time: "I do believe action has to be taken now, because I don't want to see further deterioration.''

St Hilda's resident Terry Dixon has spearheaded the transformation of a cleared site of a demolished warehouse into a play and kick about areas for local children.

Mr Mallon said yesterday: "I was impressed with the hard work of the young people in tidying up and putting to good use a derelict area."

The Cleveland Youth Association has nominated Mr Dixon for an award for his work, which Mr Mallon said was an example for the town to follow.