AN initiative to stamp out anti-social behaviour is being organised by residents.

The scheme will also involve up to 20 agencies - including police and the local council - who will pool their resources to target the core group of troublemakers.

It is being launched by Eston's Bankfields Community Association at a meeting tomorrow.

In what is thought to be the first operation of its kind in the region, it will draw together all the interested parties to prevent an overlap of responsibilities on the Bankfields estate.

Organisations including police and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which normally stick to their own budgets, have agreed to pool their resources to stamp out problems, using Government-conferred powers such as anti- social behaviour orders.

The meeting was organised after previous initiatives failed. Now, Councillor Dave McLuckie, Redcar and Cleveland's lead member for community safety, says he is determined it will succeed.

"What we have done is to pool all the agencies and stakeholders, including the community," he said.

"We are looking to ask the residents what they feel are the real problems and then we are going to arrange a further meeting with the young people.

"We are going to put a programme together and we are looking to put a blueprint in place."

Although the estate is Redcar and Cleveland council's newest, and stands in a relatively trouble-free area, it has suffered persistent problems over recent years.

Trouble spots include The Oakley Walk Aged Persons' Centre, which was stoned during a residents' meeting in 1999, and Lockwood Court flats.

Ward councillor John Simms said: "They terrorise the old people and throw mud at their windows, and railings are being ripped off and walls chipped away. People don't go out any more, and it's costing the council a lot of money. Now we intend to draw a mark in the sand and claim the estate back."

At the meeting, in The Oakley Walk centre, from 10.30am, 150 attack alarms will be handed out to the elderly.

For details, contact Coun Simms on (01642) 505 272