MORE than 200 residents of council-owned properties in Darlington can look forward to improved heating and new external doors as part of a £350,000 investment.

The properties, in the North Road area, comprise mainly of flats for older people and many are part of a sheltered housing scheme but residents have complained about cold damp hallways and staircases.

In some cases the residents have been forced to use their own portable heaters in an effort to reduce condensation and mould growth.

Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet agreed at its meeting on Tuesday that it would use money from the energy efficiency budget in its Housing Capital Programme to install new external doors and extra radiators in the areas affected by damp in the 248 properties.

It is estimated that the work will cost about £350,000.