Offenders taking part in a Community Payback scheme have completed 1,500 hours of work on low-priority highway maintenance activities in Somerset – including on the A38 between Wellington and Taunton.

Somerset County Council has been working with the Probation Service to trial using offenders to help tidy up the streets.

The scheme identifies appropriate highway maintenance jobs – like removing weeds and vegetation from footpaths – in suitable, safe locations which can be completed by the offenders but which are otherwise considered a low priority.

This saves taxpayers money and frees up council resources to complete higher priority work to ensure the highway network is safe.

Cllr John Woodman, county council cabinet member for Highways, said: “This Community Payback Scheme started as a trial and has proven a real success story. By working closely with the Probation Service we’ve been able to help them find suitable jobs for offenders which directly benefit local communities.”