COMMUNITY wardens in east Cleveland are to be given free lifts on buses in return for helping to ensure good behaviour on board.

An agreement with Arriva and Leven Valley buses allows Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's 32 wardens to have free travel around the borough.

In return, the wardens will help make sure that people's bus journeys run as smoothly as possible without any disruptions from other passengers.

In the past few months, several services throughout the east Cleveland area have been suspended and temporarily withdrawn because of a spate of drunken and rowdy behaviour and assaults on bus drivers by passengers.

Now it is hoped that the presence of the wardens will give the bus companies a helping hand in making sure passengers behave.

The deal, which has been sealed in a special partnership arrangement to be launched today by the council and the bus companies, is the latest step to combat the problem of anti-social behaviour on buses.

Last month, as part of another deal struck between the council and Cleveland Police, bus drivers were given mobile telephones to give them instant access to police officers throughout the borough at the first sign of trouble.

This means the police can immediately intervene and deal with the passenger responsible.

The free travel deal will be a valuable asset to wardens, especially for those working in rural areas who need easy links between villages and small communities.

Councillor Dave McLuckie, lead member for community safety with the borough council, said: "I want our citizens to feel equally as safe while travelling on public transport as we want them to feel walking our streets. This should help to do so."

Arriva North-East's operating manager, Tony Hart, said: "We're delighted to support this scheme. Although incidents of anti-social behaviour on our buses are relatively rare, the visible deterrent of a travelling warden will not only prevent incidents but also offer reassurance to customers."

And Paul Thompson, owner of Leven Valley Buses, said: "We are great believers in partnership working and are very happy with the arrangement."