Security in alleys will be improved

Home Office minister Hazel Blears announced the projects across the country which will share �1.1m for cleaner and safer neighbourhoods.

Operation Gate aims to improve areas which are run down, badly designed or poorly-maintained.

Two projects will receive �40,000 and another five �10,000.

Following concerns from local people about the levels of anti-social behaviour at Hensingham Community Park, in Whitehaven, Cumbria, a project there has been given �40,000.

Possible improvements include putting bollards in place, boundary fencing, demolishing the disused community building and new footpaths.

'Turn around'

Another flagship project in the North East, which will be named later, will also receive �40,000.

Others to receive �10,000 are Workington Back Lanes, in Cumbria, Yoden Road improvements, in Peterlee, County Durham, and the Eston Area Gating scheme, in Redcar, Teesside.

The William Street "A Place For Our People" scheme in Stanley, County Durham, will receive �10,000 as will Securing East Shields, in South Shields.

Among the work will be improving lighting, redesigning areas and installing alley gates.

Ms Blears said: "Dark, quiet alleyways often attract anti-social behaviour and crime and local communities should not have to put up with it.

"We have identified 73 communities whose alleyways will benefit from extra lighting, landscaping and CCTV funding as well as gates and we're giving them all a share of �1.1m to help turn their areas around."

Environmental charity Groundwork and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers are working with communities on the projects.