ACTION is to be taken to clean up blighted land at Brotton, which residents claim is leading to a slump in property values.

A public meeting about the state of the village brickyard and park area was attended by about 50 people who voiced a number of concerns.

It was said that anti-social behaviour was rife, weeds were taking over and the land was badly neglected.

Redcar and Cleveland Council is now drawing up a list of priorities to tackle the problem.

The meeting was organised by Brotton Community Forum and Coun Richard Rudland, who said: "There has been a lot of concern about the way the area is going downhill. One of the main worries is about anti-social behaviour and this is being made a priority.

"It is no good revamping places if it is only going to be wrecked by vandals."

At the meeting were the council's neighbourhood services director Paul Kirkham and his colleague Andy Powell.

It was agreed that a condition survey of properties and of the park would be made in the autumn to see if it could be included on the urgent list.

Funding is being sought for the cosmetic work which is needed.

Coun Rudland said there were no details as to cost at this stage.

"The meeting was very productive," he said. "Various points were agreed and worked out and a basic list of priorities drawn up.

"I think this can work. We have to get this moving. Residents have been coming to me worried sick about the brickyard and park areas going downhill, with property values dropping.

"It has been a pocket of deprivation for some time and on the council programme for four years but nothing has been done. People do not want to see it get to the point of being beyond redemption."

Another public meeting is scheduled for August 21 at St Margaret's Church Centre.

"We will continue to have meetings on this and it will stay high on the agenda," said Coun Rudland.

"There is now a willingness on behalf of the council to tackle this problem."