A happy family is all smiles after moving into a freshly refurbished home as part of a project to bring long-term empty properties back into use.

It's home sweet home for Dawn Wilkinson her partner Robert and their two young daughters Keira, four, and Megan who is only nine weeks old.

The family have moved into the house in Moore Crescent South, Houghton, one of three properties brought up to a good living standard as part of the empty properties project.

The project was carried out in partnership between the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which backed the work with funding, Sunderland City Council which identified the empty properties and liaised with landlords also found the tenant from our housing register and Gentoo which carried out the improvements.

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Dawn, 25, said: "We are really happy to have moved in, and looking forward to making this our family home for many years to come.

"I discovered I was pregnant at about the same time we found out the property we were living in just down the street was being sold by our landlord, so we were delighted to nominated for his house.

"I must admit the fact it was all boarded it up for a while put me off at first, but they've fitted a completely new kitchen and bathroom and it's a perfect two bedroom home with a garden."

All of the properties chosen have been empty longer than six months and were problematic in the eyes of the communities in which they sit. Various improvement works have been carried out on each property and all have been brought up to Decent Homes Standard.

(CD/GK)