A BLUEPRINT to help regenerate some of the most deprived areas of Darlington has been drawn up by community leaders.

The Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy is targeting major improvements in 11 disadvantaged parts of the town.

Its aim is to improve the quality of life of residents by enhancing the environment and cutting crime, as well as boosting health, education and jobs prospects.

The priority wards have been identified as Park East, Central, Cockerton East and West, Eastbourne, Haughton East, Lascelles, Bank Top, Lingfield, North Road and Northgate.

Darlington Borough Council's public protection and community partnerships scrutiny committee will meet tomorrow to consider some of the issues highlighted in the strategy's action plan.

They include reducing violent crime, burglary, car crime, criminal damage and theft.

The plan also targets an increase in numbers of police officers and community wardens.

Darlington's closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras system is also earmarked for expansion, while measures are said to be needed to deal with groups of youth congregating outside shops and off-licences.

In a report to councillors, the local authority's community services director Cliff Brown says: "The priorities of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and action plan are designed to have a positive impact on reversing the spiral of decline in the designated priority areas and to build the capacity and confidence in those communities."

The Government has ordered the 88 most deprived local authorities in England and Wales to produce such strategies.

Darlington is ranked 90th, but the proposals drawn up state that the town is "a patchwork of neighbourhoods where prosperity and quality of life can vary quite considerably".

Key findings in the strategy include the Central and Northgate areas having an unemployment rate twice the national average.

In health, teenage pregnancies are said to be a particular problem in the Eastbourne and Park East wards, while dental troubles for children are prevalent in Eastbourne and Cockerton West.

The Central ward is the main focus of criminal activity, with high burglary levels, while Northgate suffers badly from violent crime and theft.