ONE of the most run-down housing estates in South Wales is receiving a £450,000 boost to expand a renovation programme.

Blaenau Gwent council has just received £450,000 from a supplementary credit approval, from the National Assembly, to extend improvements at the Coedcae housing estate in Nantyglo.

Along with the £626,000 already spent on the first phase of improvements, the new injection of cash brings the total spent on the housing estate in the past two years to more than £1 million.

The latest grant will be spent on re-roofing and external insulation of an extra 37 properties on the estate.

Improvements to 39 homes are currently being undertaken by two contractors - Theaker Rae and Sons and Joyner PA (Cymru) ltd.

These contractors will extend their work to include the extra 37 properties to be renovated.

A spokeswoman for Blaenau Gwent council said the work would no doubt improve the homes and quality of people's lives on the estate and is part of a programme of improvements that began in September 2000.

Executive member for housing, Councillor Jim McIlwee, said: "I want to congratulate the previous chairman, Councillor Barrie Sutton, and the work he has done over the last few years to gain improvements within the estate.

"We will be continuing to argue the case for funding to continue upgrading properties on the Coedcae estate - we are going to bid for more money next year."

Nantyglo councillor Olwen Swales said she thought the scheme to extend the improvements was "marvellous".

She said: "The regeneration has made such a big improvement to the Coedcae and will improve how the people will perceive themselves and their environment. "The people on the Coedcae are such a good community and they deserve the investment being done on their homes."

Liza Edwards, 32, of Atlee Road, welcomed the extension to the scheme and said that what has been done has made a real difference to the visual appearance of the estate. She said: "My house is being worked on at the moment so it is not quite finished yet but having spoken to the people who have had the work completed they say their homes are much warmer now.

"Perhaps now we can have the whole estate done now and bring it into the 21st century."