A community housing association has begun work on five new homes, which they hope to have finished by Christmas.

The first spade hit the ground in Bendlowes Road, Great Bardfield, on Tuesday and Greenfields Community Housing staff, residents, board members and partners all gathered to celebrate.

The homes are being built by Rose Builders and will be two and three-bedroom houses and a bungalow, each with two parking spaces.

Greenfields aims to build 150 houses across the district by 2015, having already built 37 houses in the area.

Chairman Alan Wyatt, said: “It is always a good feeling to get the spade in the ground to start building new homes.

“The best bit is handing the keys to the new tenants, and I look forward to doing this in January 2015.”