The grant will help to stop fly-tipping in Dartford

The government has shared a total of �2.3m between 73 run-down and poorly maintained areas in the country and Medway and Dartford are on the list.

The money will clean up bad areas which are a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

In Medway gates will be used to create safe residential alleys and in Dartford fly-tipping will be a priority.

Play areas created

The problem of fly-tipping in the town was recently highlighted in an undercover report by BBC South East Today.

Rubbish, including beds, fridges and kitchen cupboards, was shown being dumped on tracks and fields.

As well as clearing up the mess the fly-tippers leave behind, the Gunn Road Environmental Improvements Scheme will also address the problems of vandalism and littering.

Landscapes in green areas will be re-structured and new play parks for children will be created.

People who are suffering from anti-social behaviour want action on the ground and Gate It does precisely that Hazel Blears, Home Office Minister

The overall aim is to promote community awareness by helping the police and residents work together.

In Medway, Operation Gate-It will tackle drug-taking and prostitution by installing alley-gates on pathways running behind residential homes.

The aim is to reduce the amount of anti-social behaviour and opportunistic crime around domestic properties, while also improving the look of the area and the feeling of security.

After announcing the grants on Thursday, Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said: "This funding shows the government's determination to work with communities across England and Wales to tackle, not tolerate, anti-social behaviour.

"People who are suffering from anti-social behaviour want action on the ground and Gate It does precisely that."