ACTION to improve the lives of people living in a block of flats in Barrow and cut crime is stepping up.

A multi-agency group is being formed for Egerton Court on Barrow Island to carry out a 'streetsafe' operation, dealing with reports of anti-social behaviour, litter and building concerns.

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The team will combine Cumbria Constabulary, Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service, building control and Barrow's streetcare officers, and patrol the neighbourhood, visiting families to find out how they can help and gain intelligence.

The idea behind the project is to give a visible presence and reassure residents in the area.

It comes amid a significant amount of police work to tackle the sale of illegal drugs.

The matter was discussed at Thursday's overview and scrutiny committee at Barrow Borough Council, where concerns were raised about the precarious state of some of the chimney stacks on buildings and the local environment in general.

Speaking about the chimneys, Councillor Martin McLeavy, member for Roosecote, said: "It is a mess. They look really, really dangerous."

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Cllr Alec Profitt has volunteered to be a representative on the multi-agency partnership and gave members an update on the project in a report.

It said: "Residents reported that the level of sale of illegal substances across the ward appeared to have dropped since liaison with the police.

"Residents reported an increase in attempted break-ins with car doors, back doors, yard doors being 'tried' after dark and property, including washing and pedal bikes, being stolen from back yards."

Cllr Profitt told councillors that work had already been done around drugs. He said: "It's important to recognise that the local police force worked hand in hand with councillors and residents to improve that situation."

The partnership also involves the Barrow Island Community Trust and The Well.