BARROW woman Barbara Lawton will be pounding the streets with her sweeping brush as the first female member of the team.

The group of council workers wheeling the mobile dustbins has been expanded by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in a bid for cleaner streets.

And new member Barbara will prove the job is not just for the men.

The council's cabinet member for environmental improvement, Councillor Bob Stanway, said: "The personnel have traditionally been referred to as 'barrow men' and have been a regular feature in some parts of the borough for many years.

"We're delighted to welcome Barbara into the area-based team for the summer and are sure her work dispels the myth that this is a job solely for the men."

The barrows are purpose-built mobile pedestrian units, which have a variety of attachments including separate bin bag compartments and hooks for brush, shovel and litter-pickers.

Councillor Stanway said: "In a borough as big as ours, it has not been possible to fully cover with 'barrow men', particularly as we have so many different communities to serve.

"The increase in barrow men and women demonstrates our commitment to improving the cleanliness of our environment.

"These people are highly visible - which is what the public want to see.

"And since they've been on the streets, a number of residents have made direct approaches to say how pleased they are to see them and the service they provide."

The barrow team have been allocated eight different clean-up routes throughout the district