VISITORS are to be welcomed to the house that Jack built, and John's, and Jim's . . .

Unemployed Middlesbrough people have been taught essential job skills and encouraged to build a future for themselves.

Delegates from southern Scotland and all over the north of England are to descend on the town's Grove Hill regeneration area to see the self-built houses for themselves.

Terry Davies, general manager for the project Grove Hill 2000, explained: "Over the past two years local people have built a development of 14 semi- detached homes themselves. They were all unemployed and used the scheme as an opportunity to build a future for themselves and their families as well as learn some valuable employment skills at the same time.

"For the Community Self-Build Agency's Northern Forum to come to Middlesbrough is a recognition of their hard work and commitment," he said.

The self-build houses at Grove Hill are rented from the Endeavour Housing Association whose development manager, Ray Gibson said: "We have found a winning formula at Grove Hill. We provide the funds, with a valuable contribution from the Housing Corporation, but the work is done by the self-builders."