A HOUSING company in the region is helping to develop the skills of young people by taking on four apprentices.

Housing Hartlepool has recruited bricklayer Anthony Chapman, electrician Mark Davies, plumber Liam Wood and joiner Kris Bradley, all pictured right.

Building services manager John Gill said: "Housing Hartlepool sees its apprenticeships as playing an important part in helping overcome the skills shortages in this sector by training a future generation of skilled construction workers."

Housing Hartlepool, which owns and manages 7,000 houses, was set up in March 2004 to take over the ownership and management of the council's rented housing stock.