ONE of the UK's first low-cost housing projects for ex-service personnel opens in Richmond later this week.

The town's MP, William Hague, will perform the opening ceremony at The Gall-eries, on Ryder's Wynd, on Friday.

The facilities offer a home, training and employment support for 13 single ex-service men and women who would otherwise be facing life on the streets.

Run by local housing association English Churches Housing Group (ECHG), the project is described as "a unique example of the Ministry of Defence working with a civilian organisation to provide housing for people once they have left the forces".

ECHG's project manager Trevor Morris said: "We are really proud Richmond is providing a blueprint for the rest of the country in developing housing for people who have left the armed services."

"Now, more than ever, I cannot think of better news than to know the one thing service-leavers don't have to worry about is a roof over their heads."

The Galleries is in a former art gallery in Richmond town centre which has been restored and converted into self-contained flats with an on-site staff office.

The project attracted £650,000 of funding from the Housing Corporation and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, as well as charitable donations from the Church Housing Trust.

Mr Hague will be joined at Friday's launch by members of the armed forces, the Housing Corporation, ECHG chief executive Peter Walters and residents of the Galleries.