A SCHEME to involve members of the public in the regeneration of Wearside will be launched this summer.

Community forums will give people living in Pennywell the opportunity to find out more about the regeneration of the area, suggest new projects and raise concerns.

Pennywell's single regeneration programme started four years ago and has already made significant improvements.

These include bringing a doctor to the estate for the first time in its 45-year history and reducing crime by 29 per cent.

The community forums are part of ongoing efforts to widen community involvement and will cover the five key areas of the regeneration programme: community safety, health, education, employment and youth.

Up to 100 people will be invited to each forum and will be chosen through the electoral register.

Councillor Jim Scott, who will chair the first forum in July, said: "This is an excellent idea for getting the community even more involved in a scheme that is already very much community driven."