RESIDENTS are being urged to join the fight against vandals as a new scheme is launched to protect a town's historic park.

Shildon Community Safety Partnership, Shildon Town Council and Neighbourhood Watch have joined forces to combat vandalism and anti-social behaviour in Hackworth Park.

The trio have launched Park Watch, which aims to encourage residents to be more alert and help look after the park.

Funding for the initiative has been provided by the Community Safety Partnership and Neighbourhood Watch.

Leaflets will be posted to every household over the next couple of weeks in a bid to make people more aware of the scheme and what it is about. It is also hoped that schools will become involved.

The move comes after a spate of vandalism in the park. Vandals have used cutters to cut the wires on a combat runway, set fires under equipment, bent the railings at the recently-installed skate park, thrown paint over the ramps and have tried to pull up the protective surface.

Tracey Bellas, deputy town clerk, said: "This is an effort to reduce the amount of anti-social behaviour and vandalism that is taking place in the Hackworth Park, particularly in the skate park area.

"We need the residents of Shildon to help us protect the park. It is an historical park and we need to show that we are doing something and are not just going to sit back and accept it.''

Sarah Norman, Neighbourhood Watch Liaison officer, said people are not reporting vandalism or other destructive behaviour because they do not know who to call.

She said: "We are targeting every home in Shildon not just the people who overlook the park. We are appealing to people who walk their dogs in the park or jog through it and would encourage them to report anything suspicious. Their calls will be treated in confidence."

To report an incident, contact the police on (01388) 603566, Neighbourhood Watch on (01325) 742755, Shildon Town Council on (01388) 772563 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.