COUNCIL teams undertook a wide-scale clean-up of a Darlington estate in response to complaints from residents.

Rubbish was cleared and fences repaired in Skerne Park after residents met councillors.

Councillors Cyndi Hughes and Joe Lyonette, with Darlington MP Alan Milburn, attended a meeting with residents last week to discuss an arson attack on Skerne Park Community Centre.

It was called to help the estate move forward after the fire and encourage residents to work together to stop anti-social and criminal behaviour.

Residents said they wanted more activities, events and facilities for young people.

They also complained about fly-tipping, vandalism and anti-social behaviour on the estate.

Coun Hughes and Coun Lyonette toured the estate with members of the council's environmental services department to point out specific problems that had been raised by residents at the meeting.

Coun Hughes said: "There are three hot-spots where fly-tipping, vandalism and other anti-social behaviour seems to be centred.

"Coun Lyonette and I took these officers there to ask that the areas be cleared and that fencing and benches be replaced with more robust materials."

Residents had complained about a rubbish problem in front of a council property in Tyne Crescent, vandalised wooden benches and fences, and litter in the green cut between Ruskin Road and Severn Way. The cut between Coleridge Gardens and Ruskin Road was said to be "covered in rubbish", and rats had been seen there.

After the councillors' tour of the estate, two large lorries with council workers came to blitz the areas that had been pointed out.

Coun Hughes said: "We want residents to know that we are listening to their concerns and acting on them to improve their quality of life."