TWO ghost streets have been brought back to life after lying derelict for nearly a decade.

Thirty-five properties in the Salford road have been stripped and completely refurbished. Twenty of them haven't been lived in for nine years.

The empty houses were a growing problem for the area as youths started using the derelict buildings as a meeting point for crime and anti-social behaviour.

City West Housing Trust invested £1.3m in the project, which is part of a larger five-year £235m scheme to improve its 14,700 houses.

The terraced and semi-detached properties in Dixon Street and Caroline Street, Irlam, have had new floors, re-plastering, new windows, kitchens, bathrooms and full rewiring.

Colin Ratcliffe, who has lived in Dixon Street for many years, said: "The work has really lifted the area and has even cut down the anti-social behaviour because kids used to hang around the empty properties.

"City West promised to get the properties improved and re-let and they have. It's great for everyone who lives here."

Energy efficient

As well as their new look the houses have also been installed with energy efficient heating systems which will dramatically reduce fuel bills.

Colette McKune, of City West Housing Trust, said: "In a short space of time we have transformed some of our least attractive and most unpopular homes into some of the most desirable in the area.

"These properties are 100 years old or more, but now they have been given a new long lease of life and the work has vastly improved the quality of life for our tenants."

The Empty Homes Agency's chief executive David Ireland said: "We're very supportive of this. There are thousands of houses in the Manchester area that aren't in use.

"The overall problem is there isn't enough houses in this country and so the more houses brought back into use the better."