THE team behind the £10m regeneration of a North-East estate has moved into new headquarters.

A former branch of Barclays Bank in St Luke's Terrace, Sunderland, is the new home for officials working on the seven-year revamp of the Ford and Pallion districts.

The scheme, funded as part of round five of the Government's Single Regeneration Budget, aims to improve life for people living in the area by improving their job and training prospects, boosting educational achievement and cutting crime.

The base, called the Focus on Ford and Pallion Community Shop, replaces the team's previous temporary office in Pallion Primary School.

It will be opened on Friday by Sunderland City Council leader Colin Anderson.

He said: "I'm delighted to be opening the shop. In only two years, the regeneration programme has already made a considerable impact.

"This is an exciting time for all those involved in the regeneration of this area.

"The opening of the community information shop marks the start of some of the regeneration programme's most exciting projects.

"These include a learning centre, an employment project and a master plan for the redevelopment of St Luke's Terrace.

"The programme still has another five years to run and I'm convinced the best is yet to come."