MORE than 6,000 council tenants and home owners are been given a say in managing the estates where they live.

New Tenant Participation Compacts, due to be launched in the Wear Valley district next week, offer everyone living in local authority homes, including people who have bought their properties, a chance to play a part in improving their lives.

The compacts are formal agreements drawn up between residents and the council.

The council's housing committee chairman, Brian Myers, said: "We are looking forward to giving our tenants and other householders a wider role in the running of their estates.

"We always striving to find ways of improving the quality of our services and the district compacts will play a crucial part in helping us achieve this."

Anyone who would like to know more about Tenant Participation Compacts in Wear Valley can contact Graham Pilkington, telephone (01388) 765555, extension 299