WORK to improve life for residents of a Hartlepool estate has been hailed a success.

Under the banner of neighbourhood policing, the Safer Hartlepool Partnership has launched a number of initiatives aimed at transforming the Burbank area.

The action has seen a drop in crime figures, drug-related incidents and anti-social behaviour.

Improvements in the area have included a fenced football pitch and a community garden.

Resident Paul Nugent said: "We couldn't have achieved these great results in Burbank if it wasn't for our local bobby, PC Mike Hetherington. He is definitely the man to match the job, and has a special and mature approach when it comes to policing.

"The initiatives that are taking place locally have received excellent feedback from residents, and we all want to see the positive results continue."

Residents join local police officers and representatives of agencies on estate walkabouts, where they have the opportunity to highlight any concerns and discuss solutions to problems.

Sue Willoughby, community safety officer with the Safer Hartlepool Partnership, recently launched a crime prevention tea towel with residents.

She said: "We are continually striving to work with local people to try to reduce crime still further. The tea towels offer us an unusual and different way of getting across some very important crime prevention messages."