RESIDENTS are celebrating news that homes which were left unfinished for nearly seven years are finally to be completed.

People living nearby in Egerton petitioned Bolton Council after becoming fed up with the state of the three storey homes on Shorefield Mount.

Last year the council issued the builder, Briggs Homes with an ultimatum, finish work on the four stone houses within 12 months or planning approval would be withdrawn and the land could be compulsorily purchased.

The half-finished buildings were subsequently sold on to another developer, who is putting luxury fittings and designer kitchens into the two detached and two semi-detached homes, with each featuring three en-suite bathrooms. The four bedroomed homes went up for sale last weekend with a starting price of £475,000 for the semi-detached homes.

Building on the site began in 1998 but gradually ground to a halt with the houses left as unfinished shells.

Neighbour Marjorie Hilton says while she would have preferred to have seen the land remain a small meadow she is pleased the homes are to be finally finished.

"We will be glad when they are completely done because it has been awful here," she said.

Louise Wright, manager of Edwardes & Co estate agents in Bolton who are handling the sales, said: "The houses are being finished to a very high standard and start at £475,000 for the semi-detached homes.We will release the prices of the detached homes next week.

"We have had a tremendous interest in the houses both by phone ."