Neighbours and workers who pulled together to rescue a vandal-hit community won praise from councillors today.

The plaudits for law-abiding people and community staff in the Etty Avenue area of Tang Hall came as City of York Council approved a £70,000 rebuild for the district after a successful mission to stamp out trouble.

The cash will be spent on 16 homes in Etty Avenue which have been damaged by gangs of youths.

The City of York Council's housing chief, Viv Kind, released the money after a joint drive with police and others to crack down on problem families causing misery for their neighbours.

Coun Kind said: "I have to pay tribute to all the people who have been involved in the work in Etty Avenue. It was very pleasing to see how well people pulled together to deal with the problem.

"After the experiences here, we will be one step ahead should anything remotely like this happen again in York."

Etty Avenue was dubbed "hell on earth" by residents last year after being targeted by gangs of youths.

The trouble forced ten families out of their homes following victimisation.

But an effort by the council, with North Yorkshire Police and other groups, saw problem families being removed from the street, and a dramatic drop in trouble.

The £70,000 will be spent on replacing broken tiles and fencing and clearing gardens.