A CLEAN-UP of Saltmead Mudflats in Southampton will take place this week as part of the city's latest Crime Reduction and Environment Week (CREW).

The city council's cleansing teams will be putting on their wet-suits and bringing in special equipment, including cranes and pressure hoses, to carry out the clean-up this afternoon.

The 23rd CREW will take place in and around the Portswood area during the week, in which key agencies including the police and fire service will carry out work with local businesses and the community to reduce antisocial behaviour and crime.

The event will include a variety of activities.

The area will be cleared of rubbish, overgrown hedges will be chopped back, broken fences repaired, graffiti removed and public places spruced up.

Residents are invited to drop in and meet their local representatives from the council, police, fire service, local businesses and community groups today, Wednesday and Friday afternoons when marquees will be set up outside the doctors' surgery in Portswood High Street.

A No Cycling On Pavements' campaign will also be initiated, targeting the High Street, and free bike safety checks will be on offer at Portswood Cycles, including a bike-marking anti-theft scheme coordinated by police.

Portswood residents will also be able to request a free home fire safety visit from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, who will also install smoke detectors free of charge. On the Wednesday and Friday mornings, university students will be offering free Internet training for adults at Portswood library.

In a bid to combat graffiti in Portswood High Street, various art projects will be taking place during the week where students from the University of Southampton will be working with young people on designs promoting A Better Portswood', which will be painted on to boards and secured over known graffiti.

For details call the city council on 023 8022 3855 or police on 0845 045 4545.