A NEW team of neighbourhood wardens is to be employed in Stockton, to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

The Government is giving the borough council £192,300 to employ eight wardens under the Safer Stockton Partnership.

The wardens will be able to provide a fast response to reports of vandalism as well as reporting anti-social behaviour to the police and council.

It is hoped the wardens will develop a relationship with young people and contribute to schemes aimed at diverting youngsters from crime and anti-social behaviour.

Home Office minister Charles Clarke, said: "Neighbourhood wardens can make a real difference to the quality of life in our communities, playing a key part in tackling crime and the fear of crime.

"We know that many people live in fear of crime, 50 per cent of respondents to the British Crime Survey thought that crime had gone up in the past two years in their locality.

"Neighbourhood wardens work with the local police, providing additional local resources for improving all our lives."

The eight-strong Stockton team will be part of a new recruitment drive to employ an extra 175 wardens across the country, bringing the total to 445