Chainsaw gang cleans up the city

No hiding place: shrubbery is cut right back on Bedford Street

A chainsaw gang on a clean-up mission has been let loose on Belfast - with the blessing of the city council.

The message to thieves, glue sniffers and late night drinkers is: "You have no hiding place".

Hedges and shrubs in the city centre are being cut down by a council chainsaw gang intent on leaving late night lurkers with nowhere to lurk.

Improved lighting will also help destroy the surprise element for would-be attackers and petty thieves.

The council is also removing graffiti and is targeting its parks and lesiure centres for special attention.

Laura Hamill, who is coordinating the work for the council, said many of the suggestions on how to tackle bad behaviour came from the community.

"We want the communities to work with us and, for this reason, have incorporated many of their suggestions into the plan."

The council is holding a series of meetings with community groups over the next two months to listen to their opinions on anti-social behaviour.