An investment of £5.3 million has led to the release of 45 new homes for affordable rent in Lanarkshire.

North Lanarkshire Council and Clyde Valley Housing Association invested the money on the former Ravenscraig steelworks site in Motherwell.

As part of its £75m Building for the Future programme, the council bought 18 properties from developers David Wilson Homes, at a cost of £2.1m, while Clyde Valley Housing Association (CVHA) invested £3.2m to buy a further 27 houses.

The Scottish Government provided £2.3m towards the project.

The properties are a variety of two and three- bedroom semi-detached houses and flats.

Provost Tom Curley said: "The regeneration of Ravenscraig is a key priority for North Lanarkshire Council.

"This first phase of housing on the site is very important."

The Building for the Future programme aims to provide good quality, affordable social housing by delivering 500 new houses across North Lanarkshire.

John Hamilton and his family were one of the first people to move in to the new estate Ravenscraig and are delighted with everything about their new home.

John said: "We are just overjoyed with our house.

"It's bigger than our last house and far superior."

There are 850 houses currently being built at Ravenscraig with a further 650 planned for the site.