A unique partnership plan to tackle the high crime rate on a Basildon estate will see dedicated bobbies patrolling the streets.

Under the new guidelines, worried tenants on Felmores in Pitsea will also be able to dial a special police hotline to report vandalism and crime.

Residents on the council estate, police and Basildon Council have got together to draw up an agreement about what part they will play in the regeneration.

Police have vowed that PCs Colin Ellis and Matt Bradford will spend six weeks concentrating purely on the troubled estate and will deal with problems raised on the hotline.

Leaflets will be dropped through letterboxes urging residents to join in and informing them of the scheme.

The council has vowed to trim overhanging hedges which might shelter muggers or provide cover for breaking into cars.

They will also crack down on litter and abandoned vehicles and fix faulty street lighting.

The residents, meanwhile, have promised to try and establish neighbourhood watch schemes.

Insp Glenn Caton, the police officer instrumental in drawing up the force's role in the agreement, said: "The Felmores Estate has probably one of the highest crime rates, certainly in the Basildon division.

"The residents have quite rightly complained to the council and ourselves and we want to create a situation where they can take a pride in their estate.

"With regard to the hotline, residents can leave information anonymously if they wish and we are happy to receive calls on everything from drugs to litter and vehicle problems.

"There will be an answerphone to take messages if the officers are out on patrol. We are committed to high visibility policing which will include targeting under-age drinking.

"But we can't tackle crime alone, we really need the help of the public and other agencies."

The launch of the project today was greeted with enthusiasm by residents.

Roy Livesy, who also sits on the Joint Estate Management committee for the area, said: "This is a really positive step forward.

"People have been afraid to report crimes in case they become targets themselves so we must get the message across that residents should work together."

A council spokesman added: "We welcome this kind of partnership working to help improve the quality of life on the estate."

The police hotline is 01268 244074.

Police, council officials and tenants - determined to clean up Felmores crime and vandalism

Picture: ANDY PALMER

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.