A regeneration scheme has received an official seal of approval from the country's most senior figure in the housing world.

The chairwoman of the Housing Corporation, Baroness Dean of Thornton le Fylde, marked the opening of the £1.6m regeneration project at Sir William Turner's Hospital near Redcar, by unveiling a sundial in the 17th Century courtyard at the almshouses on Wednesday.

She said: "It is a fantastic place and the people who live here are now living in very modern accommodation."

Baroness Dean also visited the flat of 84-year-old Edie Nightingale, who has lived at the almshouses for 35 years, first as warden and now as a resident.

Tees Valley Housing Group has spent the past two and a half years working with the trustees of the Almshouses to renovate the building.