A social housing firm has seen the desperate need for properties in Totnes and has accepted the call to build 19 new affordable homes.

The houses, built on the site of a number of bungalows that had to be torn down for the development, are the first affordable homes to be built in the area in the last eight years.

It is hoped they'll go some way to reducing the amount of families on the social housing waiting list.

The £3.2 million Culverdale development may boost social housing jobs in the area, and possibly further out in the region if social housing firm Tor Homes continues on a campaign of providing affordable housing.

Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston has witnessed the first tenants moving into the complex and has hailed the homes: "I congratulate Tor Homes on this desperately needed new development and look forward to working with them in the future to help keep up the momentum for more affordable housing in the South Hams."

Howard Toplis, chief executive of Tor Homes, also commented: "There has been limited development opportunity and a huge need for affordable housing in Totnes. The importance of funding from the Homes and Communities Agency and South Hams Council is central to providing these vital new homes and we are grateful to them for making the money available."