PROSPECTIVE home owners were so keen to land their dream home on a new estate that they queued all night to be first in line on the opening day.

Deborah and Peter Ringer, of Consett, camped out in their car in order to make sure they secured a four-bedroom detached house on the Steading Court development in the town. Not far behind them was Barry Walker, who was after a three-bedroom home on the estate.

Mrs Ringer said: "We sold our old house last summer and have been living with Peter's parents in Consett while we looked around.

"As soon as the reservation had been made, I was on Cloud Nine. Although the house is yet to be built, I am already planning and looking forward to the day we can move in."

Developer Broseley Homes is building 34 homes on the site and released eight plots in the first phase. Six of the houses were snapped up straight away.

It hopes to capitalise on the success of its nearby Castle Beck development.

Sales negotiator Sonia Reeve said: "Houses at our Castle Beck development are being snapped up as soon as they go on the market and that was one of the main reasons why we wanted to open up the Steading Court scheme.

"Consett is becoming a very desirable place to live, because it is so well located for all the region's commercial centres."