ACTION is promised to clear up the Clifton Backies, and not before time.

Green spaces are at a premium in any city. York is no exception. The Backies should be a pleasant spot for local people to relax and for their children to play. At the moment it is nothing of the sort. The Backies is home to assorted car wrecks: it is an eyesore and certainly not a safe place for children.

Yesterday we reported residents' understandable anger at the situation. Some youngsters in the area were out of control, they said. The cars dumped on the Backies and torched were stolen by disaffected youths who, the residents claimed, were able to carry out this crime spree free from the fear of arrest.

Car crime is a continuing problem in York. Figures released earlier this month showed that city police are doing a fine job in reducing burglaries and assaults. But car crime continues to increase, by 24 per cent in the previous five months.

Operation Outlaw, involving six forces across the North, was launched to tackle the problem. Today we report how the operation is targeting Q-registration cars.

Clifton residents, however, complained that the initiative had had little impact in their area.

Police have announced plans to raise their profile in the area and appealed for public help to catch the offenders.

This was a much-needed response. And it has been followed by further positive news. As part of a deal between the city council and York house builder Persimmon, the Backies is to be regenerated as a nature reserve.

York has a fine recent tradition of turning run-down patches of land into green oases. The St Nicholas Tip and a weed-choked wilderness at Rawcliffe were both transformed into natural havens with the help of the York Natural Environment Trust, for example.

With vision, determination, and input from residents, there is no reason why the Clifton Backies cannot be transformed into another green oasis.