PEOPLE living in Stanley are to be given their say on the future of street wardens.

Four wardens employed by Delta One Security Services have patrolled the town's streets since last month.

A meeting will be held next week to find out what people living in the town think the wardens have done, and what they should change for the remainder of their 12-week period of operation.

The wardens are based in Shield Row and patrol Stanley town centre and the immediate vicinity.

Derwentside police, as members of the Derwentside Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, were involved in establishing the project, which has been funded by the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme.

Derwentside District Council ward councillor Lynn Boyd supported the scheme and stressed the wardens were not a replacement police force.

She said: "The police alone cannot be responsible for tackling crime. We are constantly looking for new ways of improving the quality of life in local communities and this street wardens project looks like an exciting and innovative way to do that."

The council plans to distribute newsletters and feedback sheets to highlight the meeting, in Stanley Civic Hall, Stanley at 7pm, on Thursday.

A previous meeting identified some of the issues affecting residents, including gangs of teenagers causing a nuisance and vandalism in the town centre, Kip Hill, Kings Head playing fields, Shield Row cemetery and Chester Road Estate areas.