A TOTAL of £8.4m Government money has been awarded to an NHS trust to improve mental health and disability services.

The money has been given to the Tees and North-East Yorkshire NHS Trust for its modernisation programme, codenamed Advance.

Money will be spent on inpatient mental health services in Easington and Hartlepool. Services for elderly people in Easington, Hartlepool and Stockton will also be improved.

The funding will mean new premises in Hartlepool for mental health in-patient services and a new building in Durham Road, Stockton, to provide mental health services for old people.

Money will also be spent on providing accommodation for adults with severe mental health problems who cannot be cared for in their own homes.

The Government agreed to provide funds after the trust received support from County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority.

Moira Britton, trust chief executive, said: "Patients tell us that they want access to more services closer to their own homes and that is what we will aim to provide."

The trust has not yet chosen a site for its services in Hartlepool, but the money means that it will be able to begin work on planning the units in Hartlepool and Stockton, which should be ready by February 2006.

Ken Jarrold, chief executive of County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority, said: "The project reflects the model of care we want to see for everyone using health services in the area."