UNIFORMED wardens are taking to the streets in Wear Valley as part of a pilot scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime.

Five wardens have been taken on to help clean up the areas of St Helen Auckland, the Woodhouse Close Estate in Bishop Auckland, Coundon and Leeholme.

The project, which is costing £253,145, will be launched by former England and Newcastle United footballer Peter Beardsley in Proudfoot Drive, Bishop Auckland, next Wednesday.

It aims to respond to complaints about vandalism, low-level crime and other anti-social behaviour.

Among the wardens' responsibilities will be patrolling, checking vacant properties, targeting hotspot areas, attending meetings, taking part in community development projects, environment improvement projects and crime reduction initiatives.

The manager of the scheme, Roger Ward, said the wardens were ready to face the challenge ahead and had already begun preparations for an extensive clean-up operation in the area.

He said: "We are not policemen. We are here to try to make people proud of the areas where they live by removing graffiti, clearing litter, reporting street lighting that needs fixing and reducing anti-social behaviour."

One of the wardens' first tasks will be cutting overgrown shrubs and hedges in the area, where people are often frightened to walk in fear of being attacked.

People living in the targeted areas will be given leaflets informing them about the role of the wardens and how and where to contact them for assistance.

Funding for the project has been provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. The scheme is backed by several organisations, including Wear Valley District Council and Bishop Auckland Police.

The money provides for a street warden manager and five wardens for two years, but the scale of the task suggests there is need for a sixth.

Mr Ward, who works from the Proudfoot Drive Housing Centre in Woodhouse Close, said: "We are appealing to local businesses to help fund another warden. What we want is for people to be able to come up to us and ask for our help.