A SCHEME to help people feel safer in their homes has been launched across three areas of Sunderland.

The Home Safe Scheme will provide additional home security measures, such as door and window locks, security lights, burglar alarms and marking equipment, to residents in Pennywell, Ford and South Hylton.

It is part of the drive to reduce crime and the fear of it through the area's Single Regeneration Budget. Offences have already fallen by 30 per cent.

Ian Bailes, manager of the Safer Estates Task Force and project leader for Home Safe, said: "This scheme complim-ents work already underway to tackle crime. As well as tac-kling crime our focus is more on making people feel safe.

"There is now very little crime in the area and what there is could only be described as low level.

"But fear of crime is a different matter and changing that takes a bit longer.

Anyone living in the areas funding by the Single Regeneration Budget is eligible for help although there will be a charge for work carried out.

Residents can repay the cost in instalments. Any profits will be ploughed back into the scheme.