THIEVES have prompted a regeneration group to ask the Home Secretary for extra police help.

Last week, thieves stole 76 Christmas lights from Marske town square. It was the first time the town had decorated the square after Marske Town Centre Partnership had spent months raising £1,700 for the lights.

The theft was the final straw for the partnership, and following a letter to Barry Shaw, Chief Constable at Cleveland Police, a meeting was arranged to discuss escalating crime in the town.

Mike Findlay, from the town centre partnership, said he was shocked to discover that on every police shift there are just three bobbies on the beat patrolling Marske, New Marske, Saltburn and Guisborough - a situation he described as 'totally inadequate.'

Mr Findlay has written to Redcar MP Mo Mowlam and Home Secretary Jack Straw to ask for help to ease the vandalism and crime problems in East Cleveland.

He has also written to Coun Dave McLuckie, lead councillor for community safety with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, asking if a warden scheme operating in some parts of the borough could be extended to Marske.

Coun McLuckie said the council is planning to introduce community wardens across the borough from April and priority will be given to areas that prove they have problems with crime, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Supt Steve Swales, from Cleveland Police Langbaurgh division, said there are ten officers, plus a sergeant on each shift covering East Cleveland, who work from Saltburn, Guisborough and Loftus police stations.

He said: "Of course we would all like more, but it is a matter of funding."