TENANTS today spoke of their joy after hearing the future of their homes was safe.

Neighbours in Duke Street, Winewall Lane and Hawley Street, Winewall, and in Wood Street, Colne, contacted their landlord West Pennine Housing Association after they became concerned about their rights if the properties were sold.

The group, who were also concerned about repairs to their homes, said a meeting between them and the landlord at Colne Municipal Hall was "very positive".

The meeting was arranged after Brian Jackson, of Duke Street, complained to West Pennine Housing about a lack of consultation with tenants.

A tenants steering group to improve communication between tenants and the housing association has now been set up and a provisional date, May 8, is set for its next meeting at Colne Municipal Hall.

Mr Jackson, who will act as secretary, said: "The meeting was very positive and we all feel happier now. The repairs are being done and by the time we meet again in May we hope West Pennine will have surveyed all the houses and a large number of the repairs will be done.

"The association assured tenants that there was a long term future for the properties and that the new team working for the association were currently securing funding from the housing corporation for a medium and long-term repair programme. They said they intended to continue to survey all the properties and were considering over the long term the possibility of selling the houses to another housing association. We had already contacted St Vincents Housing Association, after being told they were reputable by John Kirk at Pendle Council, and West Pennine have now said they will contact them with a view to selling the properties or organising a management deal with them.

"They said that if either of these options were taken up then the current rights we had would be transferred and nothing would be done without full consultation with all parties. This was greeted with general approval."