WORK is under way to ease parking problems for residents in parts of Hartlepool.

A number of grassed and tarmac verges are being converted into car parking spaces in Ednam Grove, Elvan Grove, Farnell Grove and Inverness Road, in a £115,000 scheme.

Because of a lack of space on the road, people have been parking on the verges, which has led to some of the grass verges becoming muddy and unsightly.

Consultation with residents showed they wanted more space for parking, and this is being created, although some of the grass verges will be retained.

The work is expected to take about six weeks to complete, and similar work is due to start in Dunoon Road in the next couple of weeks.

The scheme is being funded by the Owton Rossmere Partnership, which is using Single Regeneration Budget money from the Government to revitalise the Owton and Rossmere areas of the town.

Stuart Green, partnership manager, said: "This latest work builds on the success of similar schemes in a number of other roads, including For-th, Findlay and Esk Groves.

"We hope the work will go a long way to easing residents' car parking problems, and we would ask people to bear with us while the work is being done."