THE £3.2m refurbishment of a sheltered housing complex has been completed.

The scheme, organised by Darlington Borough Council and the Hanover Housing Association, has helped to refurbish 28 flats in Rosemary Court.

Fourteen specialist flats for people aged 50 years and over with physical or mental disabilities were also built.

Rosemary Court provides support for its residents as part of an Extra Care scheme, which allows people to live independent lives with support from adult social services care staff and district nurses.

Rosemary Court now has a restaurant, communal lounge, hobby room, sun lounge, hair salon, therapy room, shop and landscaped gardens.

Bryan Thistlethwaite, the council's cabinet member for adult services, said: "Residents will be able to benefit from the very best care and facilities while living as independently as possible."

The extension is owned by Hanover Housing Association, but the council has retained ownership of the remainder of the building.

Finance was secured from the Department of Health's Extra Care Housing Fund after a bid by Darlington Borough Council's housing and social services departments, Darlington Primary Care Trust and Hanover Housing Association.