REFORMING drug addicts and ex-offenders are among those helping to tidy up a city's streets as part of a pilot scheme to reduce anti-social behaviour.

The eight-month project is using community-based work to aid the rehabilitation reforming addicts and ex-offenders.

With funding of £34,000 from the North Yorkshire Police and Safer York Partnership, the scheme has already seen many overgrown pathways in York cleaned up.

The voluntary work is being overseen by organisers York Arclight Project, City of York Council's Community Services and the York Association for the Care and Reform of Offenders.

There will also be the possibly of gaining NVQ qualifications in areas such as grounds maintenance and environmental cleansing, to aid employment prospects.

Council leader Steve Galloway said: "The council has redoubled its efforts to clean up the city and the hope is that this will improve the environment and get people over the first hurdle back to employment."