AN engineering firm has been awarded a £600,000 contract to service all the gas appliances in council homes in Chester-le-Street.

The contract to maintain appliances in the district's 4,500 council homes is the first major contract in the region to be won by Sheffield-based Powerminster.

The business has taken on three local engineers to manage the contract.

Giuseppe Coia, property services manager for the council, said: "We are confident we've found a partner that will give us the best overall value and will deliver high-quality gas servicing in our properties."

John Howe, head of service and maintenance for the company, added: "This contract represents a great first step into the area and the new technology we will be employing will enable the servicing to be done with even greater efficiency than before."