DURHAM'S longest established housing association has taken over the management of miners' homes.

Durham Aged Mineworkers' Homes Association (DAMHA) has taken on seven properties at Cockfield, west Durham, from Cockfield Aged Miners' Homes.

To mark the transfer, Ted Lamb and Arnold Makepeace, who were both trustees of the homes for almost 50 years, were presented with carriage clocks by DAMHA in recognition of their work.

Although the Cockfield homes will retain their independence, they will benefit from the same board of management and staff services as other DAMHA properties.

Bob Olaman, chairman of DAMHA, which has been operating for more than a century and manages 1,500 homes at more than 100 locations, said the merger followed six years of discussions.

He said: "The remaining trustees at Cockfield asked us to take over the homes, and since then we have been working out the deal with the charity commissioners.

"We're very happy for the people at Cockfield to join the fold and we're sure they will benefit from the association's long and successful track record."

Mr Makepeace, who became a trustee of Cockfield in 1956, said it had become an increasing struggle to manage the homes.

He said: "A lot of voluntary labour has been used in the upkeep of the homes over the years, but it's become harder to find, and difficult to form a committee of interested volunteers."