TORRIDGE District Council is asking local residents to help the council identify empty homes in the district in order to get them back into use.

The Empty Homes Agency, instigators of the National Empty Homes Week, estimates there are nearly 16,000 empty homes in Devon alone, many of which could be made into habitable properties.

The council's lead member for housing Cllr David Lausen said that empty homes could detract from the local environment and be a blight on the visual amenity of the area.

He said: 'Returning a home to occupation plays an important part in the regeneration of communities.'

If you believe a property in your immediate vicinity is empty, call Torridge's housing renewal team on 01237 428841, or 01237 428841. You can also report empty homes anonymously through http://www.reportemptyhomes.com">www.reportemptyhomes.com