YARM Town Council has joined forces with residents to pay for the cost of a 90m security fence.

The council received a proposal from residents in Hawthorn Grove and Lansdowne Road who are prepared to give £1,000 towards the cost of a security fence between the Rookery and the residential area of Hawthorn Grove.

Last year, the council agreed to install a 75m-long and 1.8m- high wire mesh fence after residents asked for protection from thieves and vandals who were using the ancient riverside woodland area to gain access to their land and properties.

However, residents put together a new proposal as they believed that the proposed fence was not long enough.

Chairman Philip Addison said that Stockton Council had previously been prepared to cover the costs of labour and management fees through grant funding, and that it would check to see if it was still available.

"The 90m fence will cost £4,129," he said.

"If the grant through Stockton Council is still available the cost to the town council will be £1,344. I think we should accept the proposal."

Coun Gwen Porter was concerned that residents had not been prepared to give any money towards a 75m fence, and that if the council accepted the proposal it would set a precedent and be unfair to other residents in the town.

Coun Bob Stephenson was worried that if grant funding was unavailable, there would be additional costs to the town council.

Coun Addison said that this would be the case and that it would cost the council about an extra £1,700.

Following a vote, the council agreed to accept the residents' proposal.