CRIME fears and quality of life issues will be highlighted in a huge audit which has been launched in Redditch.

The survey, which will take several months to complete, will result in the production of a three-year strategy in April aimed at tackling areas of concern.

Redditch Community Safety Partnership, which includes Redditch Council and the police, is performing the audit.

Council community officer Tariq Khan said: "We have employed a company to carry out a residents' survey asking people what could be done to improve the safety in their area.

"The answers will form part of a questionnaire which will go out to 3,000 homes in Redditch in the next six to eight weeks. It will go to a mix of people, including elderly and young people."

The results of the questionnaire will be analysed and a report produced highlighting areas of concern which will then be sent out for consultation and comments.

The partnership will also be collating information for focus groups in the town, including ethnic minority groups, and crime data from the police.

Mr Khan said: "Once we get comments back, we will produce a strategy for the next three years prioritising areas which need to be worked on with set targets."