WORK has started on improvements to a town's private properties to meet the Government's Decent Homes Standard.

The project, to ensure residents are warm and safe, is part of a greater effort to improve Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

The £500,000 scheme is being led by Chester-le-Street District Council, the community, and the Home Improvement Agency, with funding provided by the Single Housing Investment Pot.

One-hundred privately-owned houses will, over the next eight months, benefit from improvements, mostly to roofs, electric wiring and boilers.

Sacriston's Front Street has already received up to £60,000-worth of street improvements, continuing earlier work in which £435,180 was invested to improve the environment.

This work included paving and kerbstones, upgrading of drain-age along the footpaths, junction improvements, street furniture and formalising car parking bays.

Martin Walker, the council's head of regeneration, said: "The latest phase in improving Sacriston is an important step in the overall regeneration of the area.

"The work under way represents a great opportunity for homeowners to improve their dwellings at a time during which the wider environment is also being improved."

Allen Turner, a Sacriston ward councillor and vice-chairman of the council, said: "The regeneration over the past few years has made a significant difference to Sacriston's people. With the winter approaching, it is especially important to improve the quality of life of residents."