CONSTRUCTION of ten affordable homes for locals has begun in a Dales town.

Richmondshire District Council is building the houses in Hawes in partnership with Broadacres Housing Association.

Four three-bedroomed and four two-bedroomed houses are being built, as well as two two-bedroomed bungalows, on the site in Gayle Lane.

Councillor Peter Wood, chairman of the council's community committee, said: "Providing affordable housing is one of the district council's key priorities.

"We have almost completed the conversion of seven former garage sites to new homes, and other projects are currently under way in Richmond, Brompton-on-Swale and Colburn.

"It is very important to keep the momentum going and explore every possibility for creating this type of local needs housing provision."

Ward councillor John Blackie said: "I am delighted work has got under way at last. It has been a long road to get to this stage as the Rural Housing Trust surveys identified the need for this accommodation back in 1999.

"However, we are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and, by the end of the year, we will have some marvellous and much-needed homes for local people here."