LOVELL Partnerships has won more than £8m of work from two of the region's biggest housing groups.

Lovells, of Yarm Road, Stockton, is in the middle of a £5m contract for Tristar Homes, in Stockton, modernising 400 properties on the Roseworth Estate.

It has also just started work on a £3.2m programme for Sunderland Housing Group.

The firm, which specialises in refurbishment and regeneration projects, has also started the £550,000 fourth phase of modernisation work on 66 flats on the Hillview Estate, in Sunderland.

Albert Bowes, North-East manager for Lovell Partnerships, said: "We have completed similar modernisation work for both Tristar Homes and Sunderland Housing Group, and residents are delighted with the end product."