ALL COUNCIL homes in east Durham will have had their doors and windows replaced by the end of next year, it has been announced.

EAST Durham Homes (EDH) is to spend almost £9million over the next 18 months installing the new fixtures in more than 2,400 properties.

Once completed the work will mean new doors and windows will have been fitted in about 8,700 council-owned houses in east Durham.

EDH, which manages the homes on behalf of Durham County Council, said it is carrying out the improvements as part of its on-going commitment to bring all properties up to Decent Homes standard.

The decision to set a deadline for the replacement of all windows and doors is a direct result of feedback from tenants, which revealed it as their top investment priority.

Kevin White, procurement and investment manager, said: "We are promising our tenants this work will be carried out by the end of next year because we want to provide the best quality homes for our tenants.

"These improvements will not only improve the look of both homes and neighbourhoods, they will also make our properties more fuel efficient, saving tenants valuable pounds on the fuel bills."

The majority of the homes still to be fitted with new doors and windows are located in the Peterlee area.