THE Government has announced more money to continue street warden schemes in run-down areas of the North-East.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said £19m will be made available for the 1,000 wardens operating across the country - 79 of them in the region - and a further £2m will go to neighbourhood management schemes.

There are 11 schemes, which are designed to help breathe new life into deprived communities.

Wardens provide a presence on the streets and help tackle problems such as anti-social behaviour, litter and graffiti and abandoned cars.

The scheme in the Byker area of Newcastle is being held up as an example of "good practice''.

Eight wardens gave a facelift to a local church, which residents complained was a hang-out for drug users.

The scheme's manager Dave Roberts welcomed the Government's announcement as its funding was due to run out in March.

"We have found that people actually want to live in Byker now and over 50 per cent of people in Byker think the scheme is a good thing. We are naturally delighted that the Government will continue to fund the scheme.''

Mr Prescott said: "Making neighbourhoods clean and safe benefits everybody.

"Already we can see the impact that wardens and neighbourhood management have in helping residents to revitalise their neighbourhoods and reclaim their streets."

The region's warden schemes are at Stockton, South Tyneside, Wear Valley, Redcar and Cleveland, Newcastle, Easington, Gateshead, Sunderland, Northumberland and Middlesbrough.

The neighbourhood management schemes are at Stockton, Easington and Horden and tackle problems of local concern.