Deprived communities in the North-East are to share £106m from the Government to help their regeneration.

The largest chunk of the money will go to Sunderland, which will get more than £14m, over two years, starting next April.

Middlesbrough is to receive £10m, Easington £9m, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton £7m, Hartepool £6m, and Sedgefield, just over £2m.

The money, part of £800m being spent nationally, is part of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, set up in 2001 for councils and other bodies to improve local services in 88 of England's poorest areas.

In Redcar and Cleveland, the money will be spent on Community Safety Wardens, while Sedgefield is to spend its cash on tackling truancy and anti-social behaviour.

Three months of consultation will now begin to ask communities how they want the money to be spent.