RESIDENTS in Southampton have been urged to look after their neighbourhood after it was cleaned up in a week-long initiative.

The city council, police, health bodies and other organisations focused their attentions on Thornhill as part of the crime Reduction and Environment Week (CREW).

Thousands of pounds was put aside to fund projects around Thornhill that will help to reduce crime and improve services in the area.

Neighbourhood wardens were out in force working on Hinkler Parade, the main shopping parade in the district while improved CCTV cameras were installed. Wardens and shopkeepers are picturing admiring a new flower planter in the parade.

A wall and grassed area that was a notorious meeting place for youngsters has also been knocked down and hundreds more plants were put into new flower beds during the work which had more than £14,000 invested in it by the council and the New Deal for Communities (NDC) fund.

Senior neighbourhood warden Gary Curtis said: "I hope what we and other organisations have done will make a real difference to the community here. It really it is down to the people here to take pride in where they live and keep it looking good."