A CRIME reduction project that sent crime rates tumbling in Hartlepool has been praised at a national awards ceremony.

The New Deal for Communities (NDC) covers more than 4,000 households between Belle Vue and Hart Lane.

The commendation, at the NDC and Neighbourhood Management Awards, comes after several NDC projects helped reduce crime, and the fear of crime, in those areas.

Since the projects were implemented, the number of reported crimes per 1,000 population fell from 239 in 2001 to 196 in 2005. The total number of burglaries fell from 81 to 34 over the same period.

A Mori survey showed that ten per cent more residents are feeling safer since the start of the NDC programme.

The fear of being mugged has dropped by 12 per cent, and the fear of being burgled has dropped by 20 per cent.

Among the projects was the creation of a community safety office, at 173 York Road, in the town, to act as a visible deterrent in the area and a point of contact for residents to report issues of anti-social behaviour, community safety and environmental issues.

Clare Clark, NDC community safety manager, said: "This initiative is all about delivering local solutions to local needs."