Developers expect to have repaired nearly a third of homes on Billericay's troubled Queens Park estate by the new year.

Landlord The Guinness Trust hopes to have completed work on 29 of 84 properties by the middle of January, as part of its £2million repair programme.

Mobile day rooms have been used while builders work on cracked walls, warped doors, collapsed floors and blocked drains caused by excessive ground movement.

Philip Sullivan, from the trust, said the work was slightly ahead of schedule.

"It has involved some disruption for residents but we have worked very closely with them to minimalise this. Whenever we need to we have a successful project group meeting with residents to discuss and put right any problems.

"Some families have already gone back into their homes."

The trust will also carry out a survey in the new year to find out how satisfied residents are with the building work.

The Guinness Trust took over the houses in Queens Park in 1991 - the land was originally earmarked for the use of the council.

Problems in the construction quickly emerged but, despite vigorous lobbying, the trust has so far failed to claw back any damages from the builders. It is also having to fight claims for compensation from seven residents.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.