A TOWN which has been plagued by vandals has been promised action to put it back on the right track.

Residents of Guisborough have complained repeatedly about attacks by thugs on their homes and property.

Last month, police patrols in the area were stepped up after elderly residents said they were being terrorised by hooligans firing air rifles at their homes.

In response to these complaints and other concerns about the future of the town, the leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Councillor David Walsh, has announced a series of measures.

Coun Walsh said: "It is important to us that historic market towns like Guisborough are able to successfully promote themselves as centres for shopping and tourism.

"We need to find out what local groups in Guisborough expect from the borough in delivering this goal."

The council already has plans to move its Cargo Fleet offices to a site in the town, and Coun Walsh has called for a rail service to be reintroduced to support Guisborough's redevelopment.

He said: "We are committed to moving our existing Cargo Fleet offices to a new site in Guisborough. That would in itself have an important role in underpinning the retail health of the town through the transfer of several hundred staff who would be able to shop in the town.

"I also want to try and mobilise support for the concept of bringing rail services back to the town.

"It should never have lost that service in the first place, and the lack of fast public transport links contributes heavily to the congestion on roads between urban Teesside and Guisborough."

The council is also hoping to start initiatives to tackle litter, dirt and graffiti.

Coun Walsh said: "We are looking to the setting up of new community safety teams who could do a great job in tackling vandalism and social disorder at a street level."

Coun Walsh made his comments at a meeting of Guisborough Pride, a self-help community group set up to try to tackle the problems in the town.

Doreen Myers, of Guisborough Pride, welcomed Coun Walsh's comments.

She said: "It would be wonderful if all these things did happen.

"We are all trying to work together to help the area, and the council's proposals could be part of that."