More than £1m is being invested in Newport and North Ormesby wards to purchase and refurbish empty homes creating good quality, affordable homes.

MDC is currently working with the Ethical Housing Company to refurbish six homes in Newport ward and local contractors are undertaking the necessary refurbishment works.

EHC buys the properties, refurbishes them with money approved by the council, and then EHC's sister company local social enterprise The Ethical Lettings Agency (TELA) lets and manages them in a responsible manner.

Carla Keegans of EHC and TELA said: "I really hope the local community supports this scheme, which is providing quality and affordable homes and making small but important improvement to both areas.

"The scheme has kicked off with an initial six Gresham properties, with one tenant having already moved in, but we're looking to do the same with many more homes in the months ahead.

Several other properties are in the pipeline for the near future and it is hoped around 50 units of housing will be returned to use to help improve communities and meet housing need.

Middlesbrough Development Company managing director Tony Dodds said: "By working with socially responsible landlords we're to acquire and refurbish houses to a good standard before re-letting them at affordable rates.

We're currently partnering with Redcar-based Ethical Housing Company to deliver six units in Gresham, and at the same time we're actively generating a pipeline of other properties that could be brought into the scheme.

"We're using local contractors for the refurbishment work and tenants are sourced in conjunction with Middlesbrough Council, and in all we're hoping to bring up to 50 units back into beneficial use for local families through this initiative."

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: "Empty homes can blight streets and whole communities if they're left untended for too long.

"That's why it's a priority for us to tackle empty homes is part of wider neighbourhood initiatives to address the issues people in our communities face.

"There are real benefits in getting neglected empty homes back in to use as good quality, affordable, ethically managed housing including helping people to feel safer.

"It is important that we support local communities in transforming their neighbourhoods through activity such as bringing empty homes back to use and tackling anti-social behaviour."