EMPTY homes in Thurrock are flying off the market as the council improves its turnaround of vacant properties.

Cllr Val Morris-Cook, housing portfolio holder, said at last week’s cabinet meeting the council had a large backlog of houses from contractors, but the authority was now housing people in “weeks rather than months”.

Twice in the last financial year homes, on average, were left empty for more than 130 days but Cllr Morris-Cook said the latest figure of 45 days was on the way to meeting the end-of-year target of 36.

She said: “In the first five months of this year we have let 429 homes, almost double the number we were letting before.

“This means families are moving out of high-rise blocks and people are transferring successfully from properties with damp and mould problems.

“I am confident we will meet our target.”