Fund aims to bring derelict homes into residential use

A new scheme aimed at bringing some of England's 710,000 empty homes back into residential use has been launched.

The National Empty Home Loans Fund is meant to tackle the country's housing shortage.

In a joint initiative between the charity Empty Homes, Ecology Building Society, central government and around 40 local authorities, the scheme will provide loans to owners of empty properties to help bring them back into affordable use.

Fund manager David Stott told BBC Breakfast the scheme would help property owners who needed between £5,000 and £15,000 but "have not been able to access money".

"It is a big problem. This will attract and develop one particular area of expertise in those empty properties - it's not the answer to them all."