The elbow grease will be provided by offenders who have been sentenced by the courts to pay their dues to society in a practical way.

Under the supervision of the North Wales Probation Area, offenders carry out more than 100,000 hours of compulsory unpaid labour in the region every year.

An example of Community Payback in action is the work to decorate the Llaingoch Community Hall, Holyhead.

The hall is the social heartbeat of the area and is used by different clubs and societies every day of the week.

An extension was built a few years ago after the hall committee secured a National Lottery grant.

As a result, they were able to set up a Post Office that's open every morning of the week as well as providing other important facilities.

The hall was given a top-to-bottom makeover three years ago by a Community Payback team. Because the hall is so busy, the paintwork was starting to look grubby in places – so they've come back to make sure it's clean and tidy again.

According to committee secretary Cynthia Johnston, the help they've given has been invaluable.

She said: "This is an extremely important building to the community and it is very well used.

"There are activities going on here every day. Among them are a mother and toddlers group, a group for people with disability, a youth club, a computer class, a senior citizens' club, a camera club and the Llaingoch Ladies' Club.

"On top of that we provide a meeting place for a spiritualist church, an indoor bowling club, dance classes, meditation classes and band rehearsals and it's available for children's parties on Saturdays

Team member Stacey Jones, 18, said she now saw the value of Community Payback although she wasn't convinced straight away.

She said: "I wasn't very happy when I first found out I had to do Community Payback.

"I've mainly been doing painting work but we've also been in a graveyard cutting down trees and stuff like that.

"We are keeping the appearance of the community hall nice for the people who come here."

Anybody who would like offenders to carry out work in their area should contact the community service area manager either by calling 01492 513413 or by writing to North Wales Probation Area, Alexandra House, Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 9YF.