RESIDENTS have been given frontline help in combating yob rule.

A one-bedroom flat has been made available as a drop-in centre and mini-police office in Hartlepool's Dyke House area, which is plagued by anti-social behaviour problems.

A closed circuit television camera has also been installed on the estate's Grainger Street, to reassure residents, and in a bid to control hooliganism.

Iain Wright, the town's MP, officially opened the flat, made available by social landlord Housing Hartlepool.

A Hartlepool Council spokesman said the "community house'' is set to become the hub of the community, giving residents a place where they can meet police officers, council staff and councillors.

David Gardner, chairman of Middleton Road Residents' Association, said: "There is a great need for it.

"If residents have problems, they can go there.

"Anti-social behaviour is a bit of a problem here. It's a general nuisance, with young people hanging about, playing football against houses.

"We have a garden but have had plants and other things stolen.

"We try to make the place pleasant for ourselves and someone comes along and helps themselves.

"The police will be calling in at the flat once or twice a week.

"Hopefully things will work out for us and get the estate sorted.''

Veronica, his wife, and secretary of the residents' association, said: "The house will act as a crutch for the community.

"The support we have received from the Safer Hartlepool Partnership has been fantastic.

"We were quite new to setting up a project on this scale, but they have always been there to back us and give us help if we ever needed it.''

The Middleton Road Action Group worked with the Safer Hartlepool Partnership to launch the scheme.

PC Taffy Southcott, who helped initiate the project, said: "This is very much in line with the principles of neighbourhood policing.

"It allows us to get closer to residents and the root of any problems they might have in relation to their neighbourhood.''

He paid tribute to Brian Maiden, Mrs Gardner's predecessor, who he said had worked hard to start the Middleton Road Action Group.