POLICE, council officials and councillors took to the streets this week as a clean-up operation was launched on a troubled town centre housing estate.

The large group was joined by residents from the Jubilee Estate in Shildon as Operation Enominate embarked on a two-week campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, graffiti and vandalism.

The initiative includes representatives from Sedgefield Community Safety Partnership, the town's police, local dignitaries and other leading organisations which have vowed to work together to make the estate a nicer place to live.

Throughout the next two weeks CCTV cameras will be used and there will be an increase in police patrols around the estate, rubbish will be cleared from back streets and graffiti will be removed.

Helen Stewart, anti-social behaviour reduction co-ordinator for Sedgefield Crime and Disorder Partnership, said: "We were really pleased with the number of people who turned out and have made a list of things that need to be tackled. The majority of the things mentioned were environmental issues, such as litter and dog fouling.

"This is all about empowering the community to take a pride in their surroundings. There have been problems on the estate, but we understand that it is being caused by a minority and with a helping hand it can become a nicer place to live."

Sergeant Steve Ball, from Shildon police, said: "Historically, the Jubilee Estate has had a bad name for crime and disorder, but more recently the reality is about the fear of crime rather than the number of incidents that are actually being reported.

"We are hoping this operation will help residents on the estate shed the negative image and so far the response has been really positive.''