SCORES of street lights are being installed across Hartlepool in a drive to address residents' fear of crime.

Work began yesterday on the £100,000 New Deal for Communities (NDC) project that will see 22 streets benefit from a total of 132 new columns and lights.

The NDC initiative has received £54m from the Government to spend during the next ten years transforming the West Central Hartlepool area, which stretches from Hart Lane to Belle Vue and is home to some 10,000 people.

Projects will aim to improve health, raise education standards, reduce crime, improve housing and the environment, create jobs and build a stronger community.

Clare Clark, NDC crime and community safety co-ordinator, said: "I am delighted work has started on this important scheme, which was given high priority by the NDC Community Forum.

"The whole basis of NDC is that it is a community-led initiative and, when we carried out consultations with local people, they identified crime and fear of crime as one of their main concerns.

"We hope these new lights will help to alleviate this and make residents across the NDC area feel a lot safer."