There are already alleygates in a number of areas in the town

Councillors in Hartlepool have agreed to spend �50,000 on securing more back streets with alleygates.

Gates will be put up in a number of locations to restrict access to back streets and properties as part of the drive to reduce burglaries.

Alleygates are already in place in the Jackson, Stranton and Rift House areas of the town.

Alison Mawson, from Hartlepool Borough Council, said: "When alleygates are put up to protect back streets, crime can be displaced into neighbouring areas, so it is important to have a rolling programme of alleygate installation to try to stop this happening.

Unauthorised access

"This additional �50,000 will enable us to put up alleygates in such areas which wouldn't otherwise have qualified for funding under the initiatives that have historically tended to pay for alleygates in the past."

Hartlepool mayor Stuart Drummond is a member of the grants committee, which approved the funding.

He said: "The success of alleygates in helping to prevent unauthorised access to back streets across the town is well documented.