TWENTY homes have been built for retired east Durham colliery workers.

Built by the Durham Aged Mineworkers' Homes Association, the £1.1m complex is next door to St Mary's Church in Horden, known locally as the Miners' Cathedral.

The scheme, called St Mary's Court, was officially opened by Paul Stradling, a long standing member of the association's executive committee and a representative on the parish, district and county councils.

Among the first tenants to take up residence were Ernest and Elsie Franks, who are delighted with their new home.

Mr Franks, who started working down the pit at the age of 14, spent two decades at Horden Colliery.

He said: "It was a bit of a wrench leaving our former colliery terraced house in Tenth Street because we had been there for 35 years.

"But now we are in our new bungalow, we are delighted with it. Neither of us are in good health and having a modern, purpose-built home all on one floor has given us a much better quality of life.''

Mrs Franks said: "I love it here. It is the first time I've had a brand new house and everything is so bright and clean. I especially like the kitchen."

Following the opening, Mr Stradling said: "It's very satisfying seeing such a worthwhile family like the Franks benefiting from the association's work.

"Like all our bungalows, they have been built to mobility standard, have Secure by Design accreditation from Durham Constabulary, are centrally heated and have high levels of energy efficiency."

The homes at St Mary's Court are also linked to Easington District Council's warden control system.

The development, built on the site of a former village school, was partly funded by the Housing Corporation.