A SERIES of events aimed at promoting pride in communities across Southampton got under way yesterday.

As part of the ongoing city council Street CRED (Crime Reduction and Environment Day) initiative, events were held in Freemantle yesterday and will take place in Portswood on June 26.

The days follow a series of events held in neighbourhoods such as Townhill Park, Harefield and Millbrook.

The Freemantle event at Foundry Lane and Freemantle Park tackled dog fouling, which has been raised as a major concern by residents.

A Community Payback team cleaned up dog mess and picked litter, while the Street CRED team were joined by the Freemantle Dog Walkers in the park.

Members of the Newlands Primary School Parents and Teachers Association and the local friends group also joined in the clean-up.

The event in Portswood will be held in Broadway and will focus on street drinking and begging.

Again Community Payback and Street CRED will work together to clean up the area, while the police, Hampshire Fire and Rescue and the Blue Lamp Trust will be on hand to talk to residents from 10am to 3pm at the site of the former Blockbuster video store.

City council community chief Jacqui Rayment said: “This latest round of Street CREDs has come from listening to residents who have asked us to tackle dog fouling, which so often spoils people’s enjoyment of our parks and open spaces, as well as curbing antisocial behaviour which deters people from visiting district centres.

“Street CRED is all about promoting pride in our neighbourhoods.

"Evidence shows that neighbourhoods that are well kept, clean and green are also safer and less likely to attract crime – which makes a big difference to how residents feel about where they live and improves their quality of life.

“That’s why Street CRED is such a positive scheme and I encourage residents to come along and share their ideas for improving our neighbourhoods.”