COMMUNITY groups across Wear Valley met housing chiefs to map out the long-term future of the district's homes.

Residents from Weardale, Bishop Auckland, Crook and Willington set out their views on how housing can be used to regenerate towns and villages.

The Housing Thematic Group, whose members are from the district council, the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust, Durham County Council, housing associations, volunteer organisations, builders and estate agents, was told that with house prices in the district rising by 90 per cent, homelessness had increased by 132 per cent.

Edith Stobbs, chairwoman of the Wear Valley Customer Panel said: "We want to create mixed areas with housing for everyone.

"Affordable housing is a big problem in some villages. Housing has to be used to attract people to Wear Valley."

Jeff Gale, chairman of Housing Services at Wear Valley District Council said: "We are going through a housing boom at the moment but we need to plan for the long term.

"New house building has to be used to create better communities.

"We need to provide homes for everyone. We can only do this by working together."

Anyone interested in working with group can call Marie Roe, Wear Valley's service development manager on (01388) 761637.