SPORTS pundit Jeff Stelling visited his hometown of Hartlepool to mark a major milestone in the refurbishment of hundreds of former council homes.

The Sky Sports anchorman visited the Rift House neighbourhood where he grew up to hand over the 500th modernised property.

He was invited by Wates Group, one of the partners working with Housing Hartlepool, which took over the running of the town's former council housing stock last year.

Alan Maskell, Wates' manager in Hartlepool, said: "Jeff is always so passionate about the town when he appears on television, and given his direct links with Rift House, we couldn't think of a more appropriate person to mark this milestone."

Improvements, to meet the Government's Decent Homes Standard, include refurbishment of kitchens, new bathroom suites, double glazing where necessary, upgraded central heating, roof works, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.