The Government today announced a half-a-million pound boost to help North-East shopkeepers fight crime.

The cash targeted at small shops and run-down inner city shopping areas will fund scores of community projects tackling crime and vandalism on the doorstep.

Dozens of shop owners in the region have already benefited from a first round of funding last year under a £15m scheme announced by Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Last year £34,000 went to pay for security fencing and lighting for shops in Stockton, Teesside.

Funding also helped pay for a new drop-in centre for youngsters in the Redhill Road area to dissuade them from anti-social behaviour.

Middlesbrough and Redcar also won just under £80,000 in total for CCTV cameras and measures to boost shop security.

This year's half-a-million pound allocation will be made available to local authorities who will be able to bid for the cash for specific schemes.

It is double the amount which was provided by the Home Office last year.

Home Office Minister John Denham, who has overall responsibility for crime reduction, said: "Local shops are at the heart of our communities and when they close valuable local services are lost.

"It is important that every region receives help to tackle the crime and anti-social behaviour that blights shops in some of our most impoverished communities."

Alan Brown, Regional Crime Director for the North East said: "This give us double the opportunity to help small, local retailers stop crime from putting them out of business.

"Seven local authority crime reduction partnerships benefited from last years allocations.

"They instigated an innovative range of measures including a mobile CCTV unit in South Tyneside, a drop-in centre in Stockton, building security work and environmental improvements in Gateshead and a radio security scheme in Sunderland."

The Government says cash will be targeted at those areas deemed to be among the most deprived in England and Wales.

A total of £1.3m also goes to help fight retail crime in Yorkshire and Humberside with proposed projects in areas such as Scarborough set to benefit.