South Wales Argus readers are being given the chance to decide how criminals should repay their debt to society.

The Newport-based paper is asking for nominations for projects which readers would like to see being carried out by offenders sentenced to community punishment, and the most popular will be tackled by offenders.

The invitation coincides with the national launch of the Community Payback scheme, and has seen the Argus team up with the Gwent Probation Service.

To encourage readers to write in with their nominations, the paper has also been highlighting projects that are already in place, such as restoring an overgrown graveyard.

Deputy editor Nicole Garnon said: “Like most newspapers we highlight plenty of problems caused by young offenders, but this is an opportunity to do something different.

“Many members of the community don’t realise that a scheme such as this exists, and by asking for nominations we get the reader involvement that we always like to have.”

To nominate a project readers need to write to the Argus and explain, in no more than 50 words, their reasons for suggesting it.

A shortlist of ten will be drawn up from all the nominations by a panel of representatives from the Argus and Gwent Criminal Justice Board.

Readers will be asked to choose their favourite three, which will all be tackled by offenders.