A tenancy empowerment officer has been appointed to help Darlington residents improve their own neighbourhoods.

Simon Callaghan is working with Darlington Borough Council tenants to give them a voice in the decisions that are made about their communities.

He will be encouraging people to get involved in housing issues as well as working out new ways for residents to have their say.

A tenants' board, made up people from across the borough, meets once a month to look at the council's housing policies and give their views.

There are also residents' task and finish groups, looking at specific areas of housing, and tenants and residents associations that report on problems or concerns in their neighbourhood.

Mr Callaghan is hoping to develop a readers' programme where tenants can be sent council documents and leaflets to comment on before they are sent out to a wider audience.

A mystery shopping initiative is being considered where a volunteer tenant will be asked to report back on how a complaint or query was dealt with by a housing officer in a bid to improve customer service.

In more rural or smaller areas, where there are not enough tenants to set up a residents' association, Mr Callaghan will work to get people to volunteer to represent the neighbourhood to ensure they have voice in decisions made about their homes.

Estate walkabouts could also be introduced where tenants meet housing officers and show them first-hand the issues and problems they are experiencing.

Bill Dixon, Darlington Council's Cabinet Member for Community and Public Protection said: "This gives people the chance to influence decisions before they are made on every level and I urge as many residents as possible to get involved."

Mr Callaghan can be contacted on freephone 0800 3891227.