NEIGHBOURHOOD wardens are changing the face of Whitefield after little more than 12 months in the job.

That's the verdict of residents and tenants on Hillock and Victoria Lane estates, who gave the five-strong team the thumbs-up.

The news comes after the Bury Times revealed the wardens were to be funded for an extra year until March 2005.

Questionnaires were distributed to people living on the estates prior to the wardens being employed and then again more recently.

In a verbal report to Whitefield and Unsworth area board, project manager for the neighbourhood street wardens, Mr Steve Morris, said: "We sent out a fear of crime survey before we started and hopefully we have been able to address these issues. The residents filled in another survey to see how we have done and, although the results have not been formulated yet, 560 forms were returned."

Mr Morris said more than half said they felt safer in their homes and added: "That is very pleasing. More than 50 per cent said they are very happy or happy with the service. People are feeling safer and that is just because of the wardens.

"Things are turning around. It is still early days but give us time and we will progress that further."

As well as tackling the fear of crime, the wardens have also worked on improving the environment.

Mr Morris said they had also worked on projects over and above their official requirements and revealed a catalogue of incidents they had dealt with between April and July.

Over a four month period the wardens responded to more than 40 reports of youths causing annoyance, more than 20 reports of vandalism to empty properties, around 15 reports of youths in school grounds and ten reports of faulty street lights.

They also deal with vandalism to phone booths, street signs, bus shelters, arrange removal of abandoned cars, carry out environmental work to hot-spot areas and visit or telephone vulnerable residents.

The wardens have also worked closely with pupils at Whitefield Primary School, organising a litter pick and tidying up their school garden.

The scheme is to be extended to Glendevon Place, following a petition from residents, and Mr Morris said Bury Council was looking at extending the service throughout the borough.

A bid for extra Government funding has been made by the Council and Rivers Housing and official notification of the decision will be received in two to three weeks.