THE Three Rivers Housing Group has notched up 25 years of providing affordable rented homes in the North-East.

The group celebrated with Durham Mayor George Cowper and some of the tenants of the first homes it built at Dunelm Court, Brandon, a few miles from the city.

Four of the original tenants are still living there while others have become owners under the Government's right to buy legislation.

Resident Laurence Webb said: "My wife and I moved to live in Durham when I retired as chief prison officer in Northallerton. Although we were new to the area we settled in straight away and the neighbours got on well with each other."

Three Rivers has 2,400 properties across the region.

Its customer services director, Pete Ottowell, said: "We have come a long way and we have grown from a small organisation to a major player in housing in the North-East.

"We hope to continue to work with our local authority partners in providing more good housing and help to bring an even better quality of life for people in the region."