STREET wardens have begun pounding the beat in Ferryhill in an initiative designed to cut crime.

Two wardens have been seconded from Sedgefield Borough Council's Community Force to cover the Dean Bank and Ferryhill areas of town.

Three Rivers Housing Association has joined forces with the council to spearhead the initiative, with funding from the Communities Against Drugs initiative.

The uniformed wardens are based in an office in Dean Bank, provided by the housing association, which opened last week.

The group intends to extend the use of the accommodation to other partner agencies, so that residents have an easy and direct access to people who can help make a difference to the community.

A steering group involving representatives from local agencies and the community has been set up to look consider future priorities for the area.

Clare Hepworth, chairwoman of Three Rivers, said: "We are really pleased with the initiative because we think the role is absolutely crucial and central to the aspirations we and the local council have"

Councillor Bob Fleming, the council's lead member for community safety, told a meeting of the scrutiny committee yesterday the scheme was based on a successful Neighbourhood Warden scheme in Newton Aycliffe.

He said Ferryhill Station and Dean Bank were chosen because they are regarded as deprived, adding: "Crime figures have indicated that both areas are hotspots, with very high levels of crime, especially drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour."

The objectives of the scheme are to:

l Improve living conditions and quality of life for people in Dean Bank and Ferryhill Station.

l Reduce drug-related problems in both communities.

l Reduce crime and the fear of crime in both areas.

l Provide a rapid response to concerns about environmental and crime-related issues.

l Co-ordinate the activities of the various agencies.

l Involve local people in the planning and delivery of the scheme, increasing their capacity to tackle wider regeneration issues.

The Neighbourhood Wardens will be in post for three years, after which they will go back to the Community Force where the knowledge they have gained will continue to be used.