Community street wardens are coming to Colchester as part of a £50m nationwide initiative.

Today (Friday), the borough was named as the location of one of 100 new community warden schemes, which will see more than 700 wardens becoming guardians of local communities.

Colchester is in line to get £136,000 for four wardens and one supervisor for an initial three-year scheme, with half of the funding coming from Colchester Council and half from the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

A council spokesman said: "This is good news for the residents and this new resource will complement the work already done by the police and local residents' groups.

"We are very optimistic that the new wardens will make an immediate impact."

Tim Young, council portfolio holder for housing, community safety and health, said: "This is excellent news.

"We have had some instances of anti-social behaviour in Colchester and this funding and these new posts will lead to a safer and more secure community."

The wardens are being introduced to provide a friendly face on the streets in a bid to stamp out the blight of neighbourhood nuisances, such as graffiti, abandoned cars and youth problems.

Wardens will be on the beat in both residential and business areas, helping to prevent crime, alcohol and drug abuse.

Wardens will have the power to enforce bylaws on dog-fouling and litter - anything which will improve Colcestrians' quality of life. They will focus mainly on the Castle, New Town and Harbour wards of the town.

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