POLICE have said they are making strides in clamping down on yobbish behaviour in an area of a North-East town.

Only two weeks into a crackdown on crime, complaints of criminal damage have halved and nuisance behaviour has dropped by 11 per cent in the town centre ward of Gresham, in Middlesbrough.

The neighbourhood, much of which is to be eventually bulldozed in redevelopment plans, has been swamped with police teams, police community support officers and street wardens in a bid to reassure residents and encourage them to come forward with information about crimes.

Police say the crime rate in the criss-cross of old terraced streets is far too high, with a small percentage of the population being subjected to a disproportionate amount of crime.

Inspector Geoff Bush, of Cleveland Police, said the message to criminals from Operation Anvil, the name given to the crackdown, is "you are not in charge - we are.''

He commented: "And we plan to continue enforcing this message for as long as it takes.''

The inspector said police have received "outstanding'' positive feedback from ward councillors and the residents they represent.

Sergeant Mark Hall, from the neighbourhood policing team, said: "The last two weeks have been hugely successful in our bid to reduce crime in this area, and we want to reiterate that our efforts in Gresham will never stop.

"We will do whatever it takes to clamp down on crime and anti-social behaviour.

"With the help we have received from the community and our partners we can - and will - continue to make a real difference.''