THE Government is to pump almost £120m into some of the North-East's poorest areas, it was announced yesterday.

Ministers are determined to crack down on petty crime and tackle problems of health and poor housing.

They have picked 14 agencies to take on the job.

The Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) handling crime, health, housing, employment and education, have been allotted £119m over three years by being accredited by Regeneration Minister Lord Falconer yesterday.

He announced that all 14 of the region's partnerships, along with those in 70 other areas nationally, had worked hard to combat long term deprivation in some of Britain's poorest communities.

In the short term, accreditation unlocks their share of £300m of Neighbourhood Renewal funding available for the next financial year.

Lord Falconer said: "LSP accreditation is only the first stage in reaching our goal of delivering better local services in neighbourhoods.

"Partnerships have further work to do to ensure they are more effective, inclusive and able to deliver neighbourhood renewal in their communities.

"The real work of making a difference has just begun - next year, partnerships will need to demonstrate that they have made progress and tackled their weaknesses."

To qualify for accreditation, partnerships underwent a self-assessment process, which was verified by Government offices and key local stakeholders.

Cabinet Office Minister Barbara Roche said: "Past experience shows imposing solutions on communities does not work. That is why the Government is prepared to put in time to get it right."

Diana Pearce, of the Government Office North East, said the accreditations will result in far-reaching benefits.

"I am delighted that all 14 of the Local Strategic Partnerships in the North-East have been accredited," she said.

"By working together with local people and with the public, private, the community and voluntary sectors, I believe that this is a real opportunity to help improve the quality of life in these areas."

* The North-East LSPs and their Neighbourhood Renewal Fund allocations for 2002/2003 are: Derwentside £1.1m, Easington £3.3m, Gateshead £3.5m, Hartlepool £2.4m, Middlesbrough £3.4m, Newcastle £5.1m, North Tyneside £2.3m, Redcar and Cleveland £2.6m, Sedgefield £0.9m, South Tyneside £4m, Stockton £2.9m, Sunderland £5.4m, Wansbeck £1m, and Wear Valley £1.3m.