A scheme to help ease people with mental health problems back into the community is planned for Chester-le-Street.

Officials at Chester-le-Street District Council have earmarked a vacant three-bedroom house and two neighbouring properties as the ideal base for people trying to come to terms with being integrated back into society after a mental breakdown.

The Supported Living Scheme will see people housed with a carer in the largest home, then move next door when they become more confident, before moving out into the community.

The idea has the backing of Chester-le-Street North county councillor Christine Smith, who said it could go a long way towards allaying public fears over safety.

She said: "It makes perfect sense to help ease people back into the community in this way, instead of just leaving them on their own.

"Some people are unable to cope with the shift from high-level support to total independence, so they need to make that transition slowly.

"Also, some people are wary about having former mental health patients living near them, so this should hopefully allay some of their fears."

The council's proposals centre on buying a vacant three-bedroom house at Fellrose Court in Pelton Fell and two neighbouring one-bedroom bungalows.

The larger house will be used for shared accommodation with other sufferers and a mental health worker and, as the second stage towards independence, people will be moved into one of the neighbouring bungalows.

The plan is to then move out into the community, while still having the befriending scheme, run by Chester-le-Street Mind, to fall back on.

Talks have already taken place to get the scheme up and running by Chester-le-Street Mind, County Durham Health Care Trust and the district council's housing department and community safety.

The scheme, which is expected to get the go-ahead at the council's meeting today, will be monitored and possibly improved after 12 months.