TENANTS are being given a voice on the future of housing on Teesside.

Housing Hartlepool has invited 30 tenants to take part in focus groups where they will be asked their views on a range of issues, including the accessibility of services.

The company which last year took over the town's former council housing will use the comments in its planning.

All the places on the focus groups were taken within hours of telephone lines opening after a general invitation was issued to tenants.

Housing Hartlepool's director of housing services, Andy Powell, said: "This is the best response we have had for a consultation event and I would like to thank everyone who has agreed to take part. All of the people picked to form the focus groups were selected on a first come, first served basis.

"Housing Hartlepool is delighted that so many customers want to be involved in shaping our services.

"We hope to arrange similar events in the future and we will contact tenants who weren't lucky enough to get places on the focus groups this time around."

The focus groups are being run on behalf of Housing Hartlepool by consultants Housing Quality Network.