THE last six homes due to be demolished as part of a £10m regeneration project have been flattened.

The houses have been destroyed on Norton Road, in Stockton's Swainby Road estate, as part of a clearance of 190 houses and flats.

Stockton Borough Council is working with Keepmoat Homes and the the Vela Group to develop 170 new dwellings for sale and rent in a five-year project.

Coun Steve Nelson, Stockton council's cabinet member for housing and community safety, said: "We are pleased the regeneration of the Swainby Road area is progressing well and this latest demolition is a further step towards the redevelopment of the area.

"The majority of the site is now cleared and we are now working on the next phase to provide residents with a range of good quality housing for sale and rent."

Construction of the new properties is likely to begin in the autumn. The plans to demolish the estate were first announced in 2009.