MORE than 200 council homes are in line for a facelift funded by £1.4m of Government cash.

The Low Mown Meadows Estate, in Crook, will be the first in Wear Valley to benefit from an initiative which is helping cash-strapped councils to bring their old housing stock up to date.

It will mean many of the estate's 220 homes, which were built in the 1940s, will have gas central heating installed, and plastic doors and windows.

Work has already started to install gas supplies to Low Mown Meadows and the rest of the programme should get under way next month.

Tenants are being offered a choice of door colours and styles and can pick their new hearth and fire surrounds. Window glass will be energy efficient and new fencing is also planned.

Wear Valley District Council has an information day at the Bankfoot Grove Community Centre on December 13. Tenants can stay in their homes while work is carried out.

The council's housing committee chairwoman, Belle Bousfield, said: "People have been very tolerant, especially in areas like Low Mown Meadows, which have needed attention for some time.

"We have wanted to do this work for many years but have never had the money. Now we hope to make it a real showpiece estate and encourage people to take a pride in their surroundings.

"Everybody we have spoken to is over the moon with what we are doing. This is somewhere we felt we could make an impact.

"We have a ten-year programme to put new doors and windows in all our 5,800 homes, and this is just a start.

"After this, we will be looking at smaller projects around the district so that we can make our houses something to be proud of."

The information day is from 10am to noon and 1pm to 3.30pm. The council has already spoken to tenants and is sending a letter to all homes.

Last week the council's repairs and maintenance service was criticised by the Audit Commission, which said it was unlikely to improve.