DRESSED in distinctive red jackets, a new team is on patrol to dish out help and advice to residents.

A new crop of community wardens have completed their training and will be targeting areas such as the Woodgrange Estate and central Southend.

Thanks to a £1.6million Government handout, five wardens will be out to talk to residents, identify the problems they face and put them in touch with people who can help.

Tony Payne, the neighbourhood manager for Southend, said: "The wardens are about improving the quality of life for people living in what is statistically a disadvantaged area of the country.

"They're out there to help residents with issues that are concerning them.

"We'd like people to come up and talk to them if they've got some concerns and they don't know how to deal with them.

"The wardens can either help them themselves or point them in the right direction.

"They're almost like a walking Citizen's Advice Bureau."

The wardens, who work for Southend Community Action, will be out and about on th streets each day of the week from Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 9pm.

Some of their duties include: l Requesting names and addresses in cases of antisocial behaviour, harassment or criminal damage l Stopping cyclists riding on the footpath l Asking people to stop drinking in public l Confiscating cigarettes and alcohol from underage people.

The wardens have received six weeks' training and are working in conjunction with a number of different partners, including Essex Police and Southend Council.

Chief Insp Steve Worron, Southend district commander for Essex Police, presented the wardens with their accreditation certificates at a special ceremony.

He said: "One of the areas both the Government and residents have identified for improvement is the central area of Southend and that's the area the wardens are going to cover.

"They will work generally with the officers on quality of life issues and because they are now accredited, we can share information and intelligence with them.

"It is not in place of other resources, it is in addition to them."

The wardens will be backed up by the power of law.

Anyone attacking a warden can expect a smiliar level of sentencing to that given to people who assault police officers.

Southend Council is carrying out the project with the help of £1.6million funding from the Government's Stronger, Safer Communities Fund.

The wardens will be funded for three years.

The rest of the money will be spent on other community schemes.

I WANTED A REAL CHALLENGE

HAYLEY Duff moved from Northampton to Canvey and decided to look for a job she would find both challenging and rewarding.

Becoming a warden has fulfilled that wish.

Hayley, 28, is hoping people will find the wardens approachable and a new point of contact for anyone with concerns.

She said: "I wanted to do a job that was really different and I love helping people, so that is what really drew me to the job.

"It really seemed to be quite challenging as well, just like I wanted.

"I just hope to improve life for some of the people living in the areas we cover."

Hayley is hoping to help organise a clean-up for the Woodgrange Estate to improve the environment and also help restore a sense of pride in the area for residents.

She said: "We are basically acting as friendly neighbours.

"We are somebody people can come to if they want to moan or have any concerns or even any disputes with their neighbours."