COUNCILLORS in Darlington have agreed to release over £5m to improve and maintain the authority’s housing stock across the borough.

The money will be used to fund work such as improving energy efficiency, structural repairs, lifeline services and replacing out of date smoke detectors in more than 200 homes.

Up to 250 council houses, predominantly in the Eastbourne and Park East areas, will benefit from new a new boiler and central heating system.

The same number of homes, but mostly in the Haughton East and Eastbourne wards, will undergo rewiring and heating system upgrades.

Darlington Borough Council's cabinet agreed tonight (Tuesday, April 1) to release £5.827m from the housing revenue account to fund the work as part of the 2014/15 housing capital programme previously approved by councillors.