A NEW team of old-style council workers yesterday staged a passing-out parade with a difference before beginning their mission to keep County Durham's roads clean and tidy.

The five-member squad formed a final muster in Durham before picking up their fully-equipped, bright yellow vans, to mark the end of their training as the first team of lengthsmen to be recruited in two decades.

The move follows a successful pilot scheme launched by Durham County Council two years ago to help improve the appearance and upkeep of Stanhope.

Former Blue Circle cement worker Kevin Graham took to the streets of the town after the county council formed a partnership with the local parish council to re-introduce a lengthsman, or dedicated community highway worker, in the area.

Lengthsmen were council workers who were given special responsibility for the general maintenance of specific lengths of roads and public rights of way.

They disappeared about 20 years ago as a result of successive spending cutbacks.

But the Stanhope pilot scheme proved such a success that other town and parish councils in the county have been following suit.

The county council has entered into similar arrangements with Belmont, Brandon and Byshottles, Framwellgate Moor, and Haswell parish councils, and Peterlee Town Council.

The lengthsmen will be responsible for hedge and ditch maintenance, minor drainage works, sign cleaning and other routine maintenance.

The county council's local highways inspectors and parish clerks will agree a fortnightly programme of work and will consider any requests from people living in the areas.

Councillor Bob Pendlebury, Durham County Council's lead cabinet member for highways and environment, said:

"The new lengthsmen will be our eyes and ears on the streets, responsible for carrying out some works themselves, but in a position to report back to us other works which need doing.

"The end result should be better environmental standards on our roads and footpaths.'