Eyesore garages given a makeover

Natalie Davies enlisted the help of volunteers for the clean-up job

An eyesore on a housing estate has been cleaned up thanks to the determination of a neighbourhood warden.

Newton Hall neighbourhood warden Natalie Davies tracked down the owners of a row of graffiti-hit garages in Chillingham Road, Durham.

Ms Davies then enlisted volunteers from charity King's Church to give the garages a makeover.

The county council had been prevented from taking any action because the garages are owned by private landlords.

Ms Davies said: "I had to track down all the owners to get permission for a group of volunteers to carry out the clean-up job and it's taken a long time but, now work is under way, I know it will transform the area."