EALING Council leader Cllr Jason Stacey was on the Medway Estate on Monday to oversee the start of the first Showcase Streets programme.

The initiative is part of a £2.8 million investment to transform neglected streets and spruce up the borough.

Four areas will be given make-overs in the next six months.

Damaged pavements and old street signs will be fixed and replaced, and ights and other street furniture will be repaired, cleaned and painted.

The council will also blitz rubbish and graffiti.

Cllr Stacey helped get work started by unloading tools, removing cracked paving stones and putting the finishing touches to a sign telling people about the work.

He said: "For far too long this borough has been neglected, leaving our streets looking shabby and uninviting.

"People have told us they want action to clean up our borough and Showcase Streets is one way we intend to achieve this.

"Although everyone knows there is lots of hard work to do before our streets reach the high standards the public expect, work to restore pride in our borough has begun."

The scheme will initially cover four areas: Medway Estate, Perivale; The Wesley Estate, Acton; Little Ealing, South Ealing and Ravenor Park Estate, Greenford.