ALMOST £10m is to be spent on improving council homes in east Durham, it was announced yesterday.

The Government funding follows Easington District Council's decision to establish an arms-length company responsible for managing its 10,500 houses.

Yesterday, at the launch of East Durham Homes (EDH), which will now be responsible for the entire housing stock, it was revealed that £9.7m has been allocated for the upgrading of the properties as part of the Government's 2010 goal of establishing Decent Homes for All. The money will be spent on repairs, ensuring properties are weatherproof and warm.

Window and door replacements will be installed in pensioners' homes to ensure greater security.

Further cash will be used for new heating schemes and special adaptations for elderly and disabled people.

At a ceremony to launch the programme a ribbon was cut by one of EDH's newest tenants, Cyril Williams.

Details of the planned work are available at a series of open events. The first will be held today at Peterlee Area Housing Office, Upper Chare, Castle Dene Shopping Centre, from 10am to 2pm.

There will be similar events tomorrow, between 10am and 2pm, at Deneside Area Housing Office, Queensbury Road, Seaham, and between the same times on Friday at Murton Area Housing Office, Woods Terrace, Murton.

EDH chief executive Alan Caygill said: "East Durham Homes' mission is to provide a high quality housing environment for all tenants and we look forward to working with them to achieve housing excellence in the district of Easington."