DELEGATES at a North-East conference yesterday heard about the efforts to regenerate the region's housing estates.

The National Council for Women in the North had organised the event at Darlington Football Club.

Delegates heard how Darlington's Skerne Park and Firthmoor estates were looking forward to a positive future.

The Skerne Park Partnership has brought millions of pounds to improve homes and the estate is now one of the council's most popular housing areas.

At Firthmoor, 350 council houses have been demolished to make way for housing association family homes for part-ownership and rent.

Bill Cook, who has lived on the estate for decades, told the conference: "This change has come about through a lot of hard work from the voluntary sector and the council."

The conference also heard about transforming the region's urban parks and the Staithes South Bank development on the banks of the Tyne, in Gateshead.

Designer Wayne Hemingway is working with Newcastle architects Mark and Jane Massey to build innovative, low-cost housing on the site.

House builder Wimpy is behind the scheme to create 688 houses and flats.

The conference, which was opened by the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Isobel Hartley, was also told about housing for disabled people in Darlington and about help for the young and homeless in North Tyneside.