A GRANT of almost £110,000 has been given to ten family and single-people households across the region to help them buy their first homes.

The Three Rivers Housing Groups introduced the Government grant in the North-East three years ago to give people on limited incomes the chance to buy their own homes.

People wishing to apply for the grants must not have received housing benefits for at least 12 months before making the application.

They should also be local authority or housing association tenants, or on the waiting list with the local authority.

However, under some circumstances, people who are living with their parents or lodging with a friend may also qualify.

With the grant, buyers receive help to cover 25 per cent of the purchase price of the house and must finance the balance from other sources, such as a mortgage.

Although they do not have to make regular repayments, they will have to pay back 25 per cent of the property value if it is sold in the future.

They also have the option of buying this share at a later date, to own the property outright