WORK has finally begun on York's long-awaited "ring of steel" alleygating scheme.

The gateposts for more than 50 crime-busting gates in Clifton are now being fitted.

Offenders in York are helping to install the gates as part of their punishment.

The Press told last month how offenders could be made to help City of York Council's commercial services department fit the gates as part of North Yorkshire Probation Service's community payback scheme.

The scheme gives residents the chance to decide how offenders will serve their "unpaid work" sentences, previously known as community service.

Gate posts have already been put in place at the back of Cleveland Street, Neville Street and Stanley Street, Grosvenor Terrace, Gray Street, Charlton Street, Bishopthorpe Road, Vine Street, Vyner Street, Park Grove, Portland Street and Avenue Terrace.

In the next two months, further gateposts will go up in another 18 streets. The first gate is not expected to be fitted until later this month.

Chief Inspector Nick Warnes, who is co-ordinating the police, City of York Council and Safer York Partnership project, said: "There are 100 gate posts, so that is going to take quite a lot of work. The main work is being done by the probation service. They will be working through the weekend as well as during the week to get the gates fitted as quickly as possible."

He said the council's street environment team had already carried out repairs and maintenance work on the alleyways, as well as cleaning out gullies and removing graffiti.