A NEW look for part of a Coleford estate was marked with an official "opening."

Some 34 houses on Tufthorn Avenue, which were built after the Second World War have been replaced by 43 new energy-efficient affordable homes by the Two Rivers Housing Association.

A survey in 2010 found structural defects and so the families were moved out while the houses were demolished and rebuilt.

Residents have been moving into the new houses since January, some were former tenants while others are new to the Avenue.

Among those at the opening last Friday was Claire Powell who has lived in Tufthorn Avenue all her life.

She said: "The new house is stunning. The old houses looked rough from the outside and they cost a lot to run.

"The new house is modern and is so much better. It's a place where you want to live."

Mayor of Coleford Sue Merriken praised the quality of the new homes.

She said: "The quality of the workmanship is excellent and the fact the residents wanted to come back speaks volumes."

Leader of the Forest of Dean District Council, Cllr Patrick Molyneux, said: "Community-led regeneration is what we need in the district and this is a brilliant example of that."

Two Rivers' chief executive Garry King said: "The redevelopment at Tufthorn Avenue has transformed the area and the homes look great, both inside and out.

"As with all our new houses, the homes are designed to save energy and will save families money on their fuel bills.

"In these current economic conditions and especially as we head into winter this is a fantastic benefit for the new residents.

"When you start to talk to people about demolishing houses and moving them out, there's naturally a lot of anxiety, so we send out heartfelt thanks to this community for supporting this project and helping us to make it happen."