The "Fence-to-Fence" project, launched this week, aims to deliver a better response to the way highways and open spaces are managed, the council says.

Rather than respond to issues identified by residents on an individual basis the council is piloting a whole street approach.

Eight parts of the borough will be targeted by highways and transportation, highways operations, clean neighbourhoods and housing.

The council says that the teams will address problems on the street - from relaying road surface, mending pavements, repairing fences and cleaning graffitti.

Any problems encountered on the streetscene, between boundary fences of properties, by either council staff or residents, will be considered for immediate improvement as part of the pilot.

Mayor John Harrison said: "Residents told us they want us to work closer with communities tackling priorities that matter most to them.

"We know that issues in their own street - the condition of pavements and roads and the general appearance of the places they live is high on
their agenda.

"The Fence-to-Fence scheme is a new way of working by the council which we are piloting."

The areas being piloted are Carlton Terrace, North Shields; Forest Avenue, Forest Hall, Kenilworth Road, Monkseaton; Links Avenue, Cullercoats; Oswin Terrace, North Shields; and Stalks Road, Wideopen.

An additional scheme at Station Road, Wallsend starts in September and will include the construction of a new car park and new footways.