Clean-up blitz on estate gardens

Gardens on a Mansfield estate are being spruced up as part of a £60,000 clean-up operation.

Around 200 homes on the Ravensdale Estate are being targeted.

The work includes clearing up rubbish and furniture that has been dumped, as well as tidying overgrown gardens and open spaces.

After the clean-up, tenants who fail to keep their gardens tidy will be classed as being in breach of their tenancy agreement and could face eviction.

Mansfield District Council is pumping up to £60,000 into the clean-up with the Employment Service providing further funding so that people on the New Deal Scheme can carry out the work.

Ravensdale Ward Councillor Christine Smith said: "Once this initial blitz is over we hope to take the initiative to the next stage by planting up areas and helping to restore some pride back into Ravensdale."