A DRAFT action plan has been drawn up to tackle residents' concerns about unemployment, crime and drug-use in their neighbourhood.

The Burbank area, to the south-east of Hartlepool town centre, is a small community surrounded by industrial and commercial areas.

It is the third most deprived ward in Hartlepool and has about 1,500 residents.

The draft Burbank Neighbourhood Action Plan has been developed through consultation with residents, community and voluntary groups, councillors and young people.

It covers their concerns surrounding the lack of employment opportunities, empty properties, the poor layout and maintenance of the estate and poor street lighting.

They have also raised concerns about the lack of involvement of residents and their lack of confidence to become active in the community.

They also highlight the need for facilities and activities for young people.

The plan will be discussed by members of Hartlepool Borough Council's Central Neighbourhood Consultative Forum on Thursday.

A report to the meeting said: "Neighbourhood Action Plans are important in encouraging local people and organisations to work together to narrow the gap between the most deprived wards and the rest of the country.

"The objective of the Neighbourhood Action Plan is to integrate policies at the local level to improve the way that services are provided."

The plan comes up with a number of recommendations to help tackle the residents' concerns.

They include investing in local training and services, increasing police presence especially at night, provide estate caretakers to clean and maintain the estate and providing leisure activities on school grounds for the community outside school hours.

The report said: "No new significant funding is available specifically for Neighbourhood Action Plans, but they should be influential in the future allocation of resources."

Residents are invited to go along to Thursday's meeting, at the Civic Centre, at 10am.

Alternatively, people can visit drop-in sessions that are being held at the Burbank Community House, between 4pm and 6pm, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Copies of the draft plan are also available at Burbank Community House and the Bridge Youth Centre.

A comments book is provided so people can give their views on the plan.