Convicted criminals have completed more than £500,000 worth of unpaid work in the communities where they carried out their crimes, including Newton Aycliffe.
As reported in today’s Northern Echo, Durham Tees Valley Probation Trust passed the milestone for its work in the County Durham area for the 12 months to March.
Darlington benefitted most, with 18,289 hours of unpaid work completed after court orders, while 10,997 hours were completed in Newton Aycliffe.
Other areas include Peterlee, where 15,694 hours were completed, Bishop Auckland (12,985 hours) and Consett (12,091 hours).
More than 80,000 hours of unpaid work were completed in County Durham, an equivalent of £510,720 worth, based on the national minimum wage of £6.08 an hour.
Supervised offenders recently completed work at Vane Road Primary School, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
The perimeter fence had long been in need of refurbishment.
Over two weekends, the team stripped off old paint and repainted it. Headteacher David Craig said he was delighted with the results and said they have drawn favourable comments from pupils and parents.
Mr Craig said: “The painting of our fence has made it looked as good as new.”
Philip Penteney, who supervised the work at the school, which has 285 five to 11-year-olds, said the offenders had enjoyed the work and found it rewarding. He added that the project had made a big difference to the area.
He said: “It is important that the people on these schemes realise that they come here to put something back into the community they have offended against.
“And that has certainly been the case here.”
Other County Durham projects completed by the trust include a sensory garden in the Timothy Hackworth Museum, Shildon, and rustic seating in Trimdon Grange Infant and Nursery School’s woodland area.
A spokesman for St Catherine’s Community Association, in Crook, said unpaid work carried out there was “completed to a high standard of quality and has certainly helped to make the community centre look brighter and tidier.”