FIVE teams of environmental workers will target neglected areas across Darlington as part of an initiative to clean up the borough.

The teams - each of up to 26 people - will be dedicated to rejuvenating and maintaining Darlington's streets, parks and roads.

The move follows a review last year by the Street Scene team, which looked at the standard of services, including street cleaning and highway maintenance, offered across the borough.

As a result of its findings, a system has been created to tackle problems that persist in the town with litter, street cleanliness and road repairs.

The teams have each been allocated an area of Darlington, and will be responsible for dealing with rubbish collections, grounds maintenance, dog mess and litter bins, street cleaning, bulky household collections, improving parks and open spaces, and carrying out minor highway maintenance.

It is hoped the scheme will be in place by early July, and the local authority has pledged the teams will help noticeably improve the standard and efficiency of repairs and cleaning operations.

Councillor John Williams, leader of Darlington Borough Council, predicted their work will bring such improvements to the environment in the town that the crime rate could fall as a result.

He said: "By improving the quality of services, residents' overall environment will be improved, which in turn will have a positive impact on crime and disorder and people's perception of them."

The borough will be divided into five zones, based on council ward divisions, each of which will be assigned a dedicated team. They are:

1 Pierremont, Cockerton East, Cockerton West, Faverdale, Heighington and Coniscliffe

2 Central, Northgate, North Road, Harrowgate Hill, part of Sadberge and Whessoe

3 College, Hummersknott, Mowden, Park West, Hurworth

4 Bank Top, Lascelles, Lingfield, Eastbourne, Middleton St George, part of Sadberge and Whessoe

5 Haughton East, Haughton West, Haughton North, part of Sadberge and Whessoe.

Other services such as the disposal of clinical and trade waste, gully flushing, household clearance and mechanical sweeping will continue to be carried out on a borough-wide basis.