A GROUP of residents, worried about flytipping and anti-social behaviour, have been getting their hands dirty to resolve the problem.

People living in Sheridan Road, Belvedere, successfully lobbied Bexley Community Safety Partnership for the maximum £500 grant from its Alleygates Scheme to install a gate in a troublesome alleyway in the street.

Residents contributed the remaining £300 towards the cost of the gate.

The alley attracted groups of youths who caused problems and became a dumping ground for all kinds of rubbish.

Once the gate was installed, it was time to clean up the place.

Residents enlisted the help of the Probation Service’s community payback scheme which supplied young people to work alongside residents for the clean-up.

Councillor Katie Perrior, in charge of community affairs for the council, also joined in the work.

She said: “This is an excellent example of how a community can take control and work together to improve their quality of life.”

The partnership has helped fund 19 alley gates across the borough.

To find out more about the scheme, go to bexley.gov.uk/service/environ/alleygater.html