ORGANISERS hope a major clean-up may have left a town's streets safer.
Fifty abandoned cars - potential targets for arsonists - have been towed away and more than ten tonnes of dumped furniture and mattresses removed from the streets and alleys of Stockton in recent weeks.
The clean-up is part of an initiative focusing on arson hot spots across the borough.
"The pro-active removal of untaxed cars and combustible waste from our streets can only be a good thing for the residents of Stockton," said councillors Steve Nelson and Win Hodgson, in a statement.
The council runs a vehicle amnesty scheme for car owners wanting to get rid of an old vehicle free of charge, while a bulk waste collection service is also available.
The arson reduction initiative is being carried out by Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire Brigade, the DVLA and Stockton Borough Council.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article