A DELEGATION of housing officials from the Far East visited Middlesbrough this week to see first-hand how housing and regeneration issues are dealt with in the UK.

The ten-strong team from the Hong Kong Housing Authority includes housing managers, surveyors and estate managers who are visiting seven parts of the country during a month-long fact finding mission.

The visitors wanted to see how communities in West Middlesbrough are dealing with housing regeneration and tackling anti-social behaviour and crime.

The delegation met representatives from West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust and were taken on a whistle-stop tour of the area to get a flavour of life in Newport, West Lane and Whinney Banks .

On returning home, all members of the delegation will submit a report to the Training and Development Centre of Hong Kong Housing Authority, focusing on community development and regeneration of housing areas within the UK.

Trust chairwoman, Joan Ford, said: "We're delighted the Hong Kong party have chosen to come and see what's going on in west Middlesbrough.

"There is so much happening and this is a great chance for us to share ideas and learn from each other."

The delegation has already been to London and Harrogate and will shortly be travelling to Edinburgh to look at housing issues in the Scottish capital.