MOVES to improve environmental standards in east Durham were given a boost this week with the appointment of four clean-up teams.

The new Clean and Green teams have been organised by Easington District Council and will include staff members from the authority's horticultural, street cleansing and enforcement units.

The project follows a low rating on the National Audit Commission's 2004-5 survey, which ranked Easington's streets as among the most unclean in the region.

But the council pointed out yesterday that, over the past year, it had reduced the number of streets falling below the acceptable standard for cleanliness by ten per cent to 22 per cent.

And is hoped that the formation of the new teams, coupled with the introduction of a four-day refuse collection cycle, will further improve standards.

Each Clean and Green unit will have a team leader who has been trained to monitor standards in their allocated area where they will carry out regular spot checks.

The teams will also work closely with members of the public to tackle litter hot spots and other environmental problems.