NEW measures to further improve the appearance of Hartlepool have been introduced.

Three grounds maintenance teams, each comprising three members of staff, have been set up in the southern, central and northern areas of town.

Based on the boundaries of Hartlepool Borough Council's neighbourhood forums, the teams began work yesterday with the aim of providing a more locally responsive and efficient solution to a range of environmental problems.

These include the removal of wind-blown litter from shrub beds, the control of grass cuttings resulting from mowing operations, the tidying up of overgrown shrub beds, and edging of grassed areas.

The new grounds maintenance arrangements aim to build upon improvements resulting from the increased mechanisation of street cleaning, which also operates on an area basis.