CHRISTMAS is set to arrive four months earlier for a town's vandal-hit traders.

Shopkeepers in Eston, near Middlesbrough, have had to endure vandalism, arson attacks and break-ins over several months.

Now, a town centre redevelopment is to go ahead, with 20 units in the High Street poised for demolition to make way for a supermarket.

Councillors, residents and shoppers are welcoming a proposal by food store chain Aldi to build a store in the town centre - a planning application which is being recommended for approval by officials at a meeting of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's planning committee on Wednesday.

Eston postmaster Dave Whitehouse said: "All I can say is, it is about time. With the precinct it has just been a steady decline because of the vandals.

"It has got to the stage where a lot of locals will not come into the precinct and it's getting worse and worse.''

Ann Higgins, chairwoman of Eston Residents' Association, said the redevelopment will be a turning point for the town.

She said: "Everyone has waited a long time for this. We are delighted.

"It is to the credit of the residents who have stood by the community. But the biggest credit of all must go to the business people who have suffered but shown loyalty by sticking by the community. I hope this will be the turning point for the town.''

Councillor George Dunning, lead member with Redcar and Cleveland council for regeneration, and a local councillor, said: "We welcome the fact that the planning application is going to committee on the 28th. It has has been a very long and tortuous road. We have had to deal with 17 businesses, relocation and different landlords.''

Referring to a section of the precinct that will be demolished, he said: "It has been a pretty derelict part for sometime. I hope the businesses that are there will now be encouraged to stay, and new ones will be attracted to come. Only last week we had had problems with one of the derelict shops. Children have been in vandalising the place.''

He does not foresee obstacles to the Aldi application receiving approval on Wednesday and hopes to see the redevelopment take shape in the New Year