PRESTON City Council is to spend £100,000 transforming ten grot spots.

The cash will be used to target areas blighted by anti-social and criminal behaviour.

It will also tackle litter and fly-tipping problems, in particular problems with shrub beds, which can become hiding places for criminals and even dumping grounds for needles.

Jim Park, of the council's grounds maintenance department, said: "The areas were chosen mainly after public meetings with residents, and from issues raised by councillors and the police.

"Fly tipping is a problem and there are also some quite serious issues over safety and crime in some of the more overgrown shrub beds."

The project could start as soon as next week, and approval was set to be given at a meeting of the council's cabinet on Wednesday.

The scheme is known as Grot Spots to Pride Spots. Among the sites earmarked for work are the Friargate/Lune Street/Fox Street area; Riversway and Portway; Thirlmere Estate, off Brockholes Brow; Mercer Street, off New Hall Lane; London Road; Wilbraham Street area, Ribbleton; Miles Walk area, Plungington; Broadgate Linear Park; and Frenchwood Recreation Ground.