TOWN proud residents will be seen while they clean in Middlewich with new jackets designed to make them really stand out from the crowd.

Members of Middlewich Clean Team are looking forward to taking to the streets and dazzling passers-by in their new fluorescent coats, which were funded by the town's CAT team.

The coats will keep members of the voluntary group safe and warm as they work by busy roadsides.

Janet Chisholm, from the team, said: "We're absolutely delighted - the jackets have long sleeves so we can go on any highway and plant bulbs in safety.

"We couldn't go on highways before because you have to have long sleeves.

"It's really lovely to feel we are working in the community and the police are backing us."

The CAT team had £200 to fund the jackets thanks to a Home Office scheme giving officers access to small amounts of money to help with improving community safety.

PC Mike Senior, from the CAT team, said: "We've provided the Clean Team with jackets which will enable them to work closer to many roads in accordance with health and safety.

"They will be able to go out in bad weather as well as good, which will allow them to do their job more effectively.

"But also from a distance they will look like police officers, which will slow traffic down."

He added: "They are doing a good job and we are happy to help reduce the litter on the streets and make Middlewich into a cleaner, brighter and safer place."