A SCHEME to bring wardens into all communities in Redcar and Cleveland Borough took a step forward yesterday.

The community safety warden scheme is designed to tackle environmental damage and anti-social behaviour.

The scheme was piloted in Brotton, Teesville, and Normanby, last year, and has proved so successful that the borough council intends to have wardens in all communities by Easter next year.

The latest recruits are stepping on to the streets of their communities this week.

Yesterday, the scheme started in Dormanstown and Kirkleatham, and today the wardens start patrolling in Loftus.

Councillor Dave McLuckie, lead member for community safety, said: "This borough has invested in community safety more than any other borough in the country - and we've done it all with our own cash.

The feedback from the areas served by the wardens shows that the public really value this service, which has made significant and meaningful inroads into making those communities a cleaner and safer place."

for local residents."

Civic leaders welcomed them. Redcar and Cleveland's mayor, Councillor Vilma Collins, welcomed the extension of the service in her ward of Dormanstown while deputy mayor, Coun Eric Jackson, will be on hand in his own ward of Loftus this morning.