A TEESSIDE mother has been re-elected to represent former council house tenants.

Denise Mason, 44, of Radstock Avenue, on Stockton's Roseworth estate, has been re-elected to the Tristar Homes Board as a tenant director.

Mrs Mason, who has been associated with housing tenancies for four decades as her parents were council tenants, has held her tenancy for eight years.

She will help make decisions at Tristar Homes, the company which now runs Stockton Borough Council's housing stock.

She said: "It means a lot that people took the trouble to exercise their vote on this important issue and allows me to continue the work already started with the other directors."

Mrs Mason polled the most votes in a straight contest for the seat with Andrew Pallis, 52, who works in local government.

A widow with two daughters, Mrs Mason serves on the Stockton Borough customer liaison group. She is a former tailoress and lollipop lady.

Gulbag Singh, a magistrate, has joined the board as an independent director. A Thornaby resident, he said: "I feel I will bring to the board a multi-skilled and bilingual facet and have an impartial non-judgmental attitude when looking at issues."

Tristar Homes is run by a board of 18 company directors -- six tenants, six representatives from Stockton council and six independents.

Each year two of the tenants and independents either stand down or seek re-election or re-appointment for a further three years.