AN AWARD winning team of wardens is to be split up.

Earlier this year, wardens Steve Westwood, Tom Gatley and Linda Irvin were named community heroes at the first North-East Warden Awards, where they received two awards, and were also awarded a distinction under the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit Warden Quality Standard.

Despite the accolades, funding for the trio, who patrol Middlesbrough's Saltersgill estate, is being withdrawn.

Residents have been told if they want the service to continue, they will have to pay extra rent from March.

Carl Doolan, area manager for William Sutton Housing Association, said: "Community wardens were introduced on William Sutton's Saltersgill estate six years ago, and were initially Government-funded.

"As the scheme was successful, when the funding ran out in March 2004, William Sutton pledged to keep the service running for another three years.

"As William Sutton's funding is due to come to an end in March, a letter was recently sent to residents on the Saltersgill estate, giving them the option to pay for the continuation of the community wardens service through an increase in their service charge. The results show that a majority of residents - 90 per cent - would be willing to pay for the continuation of the service."

A second letter was subsequently sent to people living on the 500-house estate, and the response showed 90 per cent of residents in favour of paying for the wardens.

While the warden service will continue, housing association bosses have decided to cut the trio to a duo in future.

The wardens have been informed one will have to go, and all three now expect to have to reapply for their jobs.

Besides fighting crime and anti-social behaviour, they organise events for pensioners.

Mr Westwood, who dressed as Santa for a pensioners' Christmas party this week, said: "Obviously it's disheartening. Things were going well and this happens.

"The estate is quiet because of the work we have done, but if there is no money put in the scheme, it will stop. If we are successful, we will just continue to provide the service we provide."