A CLEAN-UP project masterminded by Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond is under way.

Every month Operation Clean Sweep, a joint partnership between Hartlepool Borough Council, Cleveland Police and the fire brigade, will descend on a different area of Hartlepool, for five days, until the entire town has been targeted.

There are five themes which the operation aims to tackle - crime, health, environment, safety and education.

During each five-day campaign, all lamp columns will be repainted, streetlights cleaned or replaced, street nameplates renewed, potholes filled in, footpaths repaired and dropped kerbs installed.

The latest street cleaning equipment will be used and blocked gullies will be cleared.

The initiative began yesterday in the Burbank area and the five-day blitz is expected to leave the estate with a new look.

The council's horticultural team, litter pickers and anti-graffiti squad will all be working to improve the appearance of the area, which is home to about 500 families.

The idea for the operation was put forward by Mr Drummond.

He said: "Operation Clean Sweep is designed to bring organisations together to focus on improving a particular area over a concentrated period.

"Burbank is the first area to benefit and it is our intention to rotate Operation Clean Sweep until the whole town has been covered.

"This is not costing the council any extra money at all.

"It is just a case of organising ourselves a little bit differently."

Efforts to tackle crime will be given a high profile with several "raising awareness" initiatives taking place during the week.

The town's community wardens will be out in force and any abandoned vehicles parked on the road will also be removed.

Other activities include truancy patrols, Pride in Hartlepool presentations and competitions for schoolchildren who attend the three primary schools in the area.

Residents are also invited to the Families First Healthbus, at Burbank Community House, on Thursday, between 1pm and 2pm, and to the Road Safety and Cleveland Police Community Safety Unit today, between 10am and 2pm, to have bikes, scooters and prams security coded.

The event will take place at the same venue.