A decision to remove loyalist graffiti and some murals from interface areas of east Belfast has been welcomed by politicians and community representatives.

The Reverend Gary Mason, who chairs the Inner East Forum, said on Tuesday that paramilitary groups such as the Ulster Defence Association, the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando had agreed to the initiative.

Sectarian graffiti will be removed and in some cases replaced by murals depicting local celebrities such as George Best

Mr Mason said the move was aimed at reducing tensions that lead to violence at interfaces in the east of the city.

These initiatives should act as an encouragement to other troubled parts of Northern Ireland such as north Belfast Sir Reg Empey UUP assembly member

"Those within loyalist paramilitarism that I have been speaking to realise that ultimately we are going to ghettoize these areas unless we begin to clean these areas up," he said.

A spokesperson added: "We have worked tirelessly with Mediation Northern Ireland to quell any signs of trouble from the loyalist side of the community.

"We do not want this trouble either for ourselves or the greater east Belfast community."

The group has helped secure the peace at the Cluan Place interface and said it would continue to do all in its power to ensure that violence would not be instigated from the loyalist side.

Ulster Unionist assembly member Sir Reg Empey described the move as "very positive".

"There are a number of optimistic moves in this announcement," he said.

"Graffiti and a number of paramilitary murals will be removed and this will help clean up the image of the area.

Sir Reg added that the area would also benefit economically from the decision to remove the graffiti.

"Jobs have been lost because companies don't want to be located in an area with such problems," he said.

"Hopefully, east Belfast will be able to attract inward investment and as a result this will help improve the lives of those who live here.

"These initiatives should act as an encouragement to other troubled parts of Northern Ireland such as north Belfast."

Tuesday's statement added that the three paramilitary groups were taking part in a Community Safety Group which included participation of both the churches and community groups in the area.

That group has called for a halt to all sectarian attacks on people walking past or living in the interface areas.