FOUR housing providers have joined forces for a multi-million pound facelift in the North-East.

Enterprise 5, Endeavour Housing, Newcastle and Whitley Housing Trust and Tynedale Housing are to bid for Government funds for a £34.3m development programme across the region.

They say the money will enable them to make a real impact on the area's housing needs.

They plan 40 building projects, covering Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton, Teesdale, the Wear Valley, Darlington, Derwentside, Easington, and Hambleton.

Charlie Hughes, chief executive of Teesside-based Endeavour Housing, said: "Each member organisation will own properties that it has bid for funding to develop and will be accountable in the long-term for those dwellings, but bids for funding will come from the lead organisation."