THREE North-East towns are being included in a pilot initiative aimed at improving the quality of life of communities across the UK.

Regeneration Minister Lord Falconer says that tackling poor public space is an urgent priority for the Government.

Middlesbrough, Gateshead and Newcastle are included in a 24 town and city partnership, looking at ways of dealing with urban problems.

Launching the idea, Lord Falconer said: "If you listen to people talking about their area the complaints are often the same - graffiti and vandalism; abandoned cars, rat runs and anti-social behaviour; litter, safe parks and safe, clean public areas.

"These are not trivialities, but the thousand cuts that can easily lead to the slow death of urban communities."

He says the open and honest debate he wants to encourage from the initiative will form future policy development.

He added: "Maintaining and creating high quality public space has too often been pushed down the agenda.

"It has been squeezed by other priorities. We are determined to pull it up the agenda."