The Holway estate has seen a decrease in disorder

Holway in Holywell, Flintshire, has just over 400 houses, but it used to have the highest number of emergency call-outs in the county, with 256 incidents in 12 months.

Since the adult community got together with youngsters, the number of juvenile anti-social behaviour incidents has fallen from 80 to 22.

"After dark nobody would go out, the estate basically was ruled by an unruly element, there were drugs, speeding cars, underage drinking and vandalism," said neighbourhood watch co-ordinator Mike Ball.

"Obviously with the drug problems there's a high increase in burglary as well.

"If you can get the youngsters on board, that is vital to the success of the estate.

Maybe some gripes that they've had that may have turned into anti-social behaviour mean they will now come to me and allow me to deal with it Julie Robinson, North Wales Police

"If the adults just take over, you'll find usually nine times out of ten that within a week it's vandalised," he added.

Residents feel they have restored some pride by making the area a quieter and more pleasant place to live.

Residents have been awarded �1.5m for community projects to help improve the estate.

Young children have been encouraged to take pride in their estate by picking up litter.

"We've got one crew called the Wombles and another group called the Wicked Crew, they all have sticks and an adult supervising them and at the end of it they have pop and crisps and they also go on trips," said Mr Ball.

Teenagers have also benefited. They can receive free driving lessons for helping younger children with their reading.

Nikki Sears learnt to drive with the scheme

Nikki Sears, 18, passed her test with the help of extra free lessons.

"I helped in the junior youth club for an hour, I still do it now even though I've passed," she said.

"You just draw with them, play games with them, sometimes go on trips or walks.

"I know people who passed [their driving test] from it and it's helped them a great deal as well."

Pc Julie Robinson, the estate's community beat manager, said there had been an improvement on the estate.

"Maybe some gripes that they've had that may have turned into anti-social behaviour mean they will now come to me and allow me to deal with it," she said.

She said there was no longer as much shouting on the streets and neighbour disputes, while residents take more pride in their properties and houses that once stayed empty are now occupied.