IN THE Dorset probation area, more than 85,000 hours of Community Payback are completed every year by offenders on community sentences.

This equates to over £1million of free labour provided to local communities as offenders pay back for the crimes they have committed. Community Payback projects range from litter removal to clearing dense undergrowth, and environmental projects through repairing and redecorating community centres or removing graffiti.

Offenders usually work as part of a team, monitored by a supervisor and will work all day with short breaks.

Anyone can nominate a project, to find out more visit dorset-probation.gov.uk