Almost half a million pounds has been spent on CCTV, fencing and lighting to try and cut crime and anti-social behaviour in a Black Country borough.

And other tactics to stop tearaways causing trouble include sealing off alleyways and installing barriers and bollards.

Dudley Council has allocated funding for a raft of security measures to improve safety in Dudley. Council spokesman Chris Howes said: “All tenants have the right to feel safe and secure in their communities.”

He said that the council’s aim was to continue to work with its partners.

Mr Howes added that the local authority wished to prevent anti-social behaviour in the area and, where necessary, took a proactive response to resolving it.

Security cameras have been installed in the lifts at blocks of flats in Brierley Hill: including Brickiln Court, Chapel Court, Dean Court and also Briar Court due to crime and nuisance behaviour at the sites.

As part of the £98,000 budget for the work in the town, lockable barriers have also been provided to improve security at several garage sites which have been refurbished.

New doors and a secure door entry system is in place at flats in Sandfield Road where yobs had been getting in and causing mayhem.

Similarly a high level of anti-social behaviour on the Claycroft estate in Stourbridge has led to door entrances being upgraded from wood to steel and alleyways being shut off.

Some of the £79,000 allocated for Stourbridge was also spent on installing door entry phone system to bungalows giving elderly tenants peace of mind.

In the north of borough, covering Gornal and Sedgley, £90,000 has been spent on the removal of trees and shrubbery to open up concealed areas and reduce the fear of crime.

Fencing and gating has been in put place to deter alleged drug dealing from cars. Ward councillor and lead member for community safety Anne Millward said: “These measures will give tenants greater peace of mind but at the same time we don’t want people to feel under siege.”

Similar initiatives have been used in central Dudley where £152,130 has been spent by the council and in Halesowen which has benefited from a host of measures costing £70,000.