THE installation of new doors and windows to more than 3,000 former council houses has been completed ahead of schedule.

Cestria Community Housing, which owns and manages the former Chester-le-Street District Council stock, is carrying out an £80m investment programme designed to help the homes meet the government’s Decent Homes standard.

The uPVC doors and windows were fitted by the Sekura Group and the project was finished five months early.

Malcolm Thompson, Technical Services Manager at Cestria Community Housing, said: "Not only has Sekura successfully delivered the two-year programme five months ahead of schedule, but the feedback we have had about the quality of work from tenants is excellent.

"Our tenants reported that they were delighted to have had new windows and doors installed in time for Christmas especially in time for all this bad weather we have been experiencing."

Sekura was last year named the association’s contractor of the year for its performance.

Over the last eighteen months Cestria has also been installing new kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems, erecting fencing and boundary walls, fitting new eaves, gutters and fascias and carrying out an external painting programme.