CAMERAS are to be installed in Greater Eston to combat a rise in the number of violent instances of anti-social behaviour.

Redcar and Cleveland Council has agreed a £160,000 scheme to put 11 security cameras in Eston, Bankfields, Normanby, Teesville and Whale Hill.

There has been a sharp rise in violent incidents, arson, vandalism, and graffiti in the Eston precincts during the past ten months.

For years, young people have been congregating in the rundown shopping area, drinking alcohol and smoking, but more recently residents have found evidence of drug-taking and substance abuse.

In November, residents presented the council with a 1,500-name petition demanding immediate action to address the problems.

Ann Higgins, chairman of Eston Residents' Association, said: "We welcome the news about the cameras and this should be seen as a victory for the people who showed their feelings by signing the petition.

"But it is a shame that it has taken seven years of meetings with all the various organisations in the area to get something done, while in the meantime the area has gone from being affluent to being deprived.

"This may not solve all the problems in Eston, but at least it is a start."

Dave McLuckie, lead councillor for community safety, said the council had been applying for Government aid for cameras in recent years but was unsuccessful because other areas had higher crime rates.

He said members were so fed up of waiting for funding that the scheme would be financed from the council's coffers.

"We decided that we could not wait any longer because things were getting so bad," said Coun McLuckie.