LEYLAND-BASED Progress Property Services has won more than £2 million of gas servicing contracts in the North West.

The new contracts are for servicing and repairing gas fires, water heaters and central heating for three housing associations at thousands of rented homes in East Lancashire and other areas.

The majority of the work will be done over the next five years in 5,900 houses and flats owned by B&N Housing and North British Housing Associations, two of the biggest in the North West.

The B&N Housing contract in East Lancashire, Chorley and South Ribble and is worth £1.1 million over five years. The North British work in Preston, Lancaster and the Fylde areas will be spread over three years and totals £900,000.

In addition Property Services latest success is a three-year contract for St Vincent's Housing Association to service and repair central heating at 864 houses in the East Lancashire, Bolton and Manchester areas. This contract is worth £270,000.

Steve Burns, St Vincent's technical manager, said: "We are extremely pleased to have negotiated this agreement. It further represents St Vincent's commitment to improving customer services."

Property Services is a division of Progress Housing Group. Its main work is to repair and maintain the group's 4,000 rented properties in the South Ribble area, but it aims to become a leader in providing gas servicing and installation to other housing organisations in Lancashire.

The three servicing contracts, which will create an extra six jobs, may lead to future partnering agreements with other housing associations to include not just repairs and maintenance, but installation of gas appliances.

"We were delighted to be awarded these contracts because they continue our success in providing good-quality, cost-effective services to outside customers," said Gary Sanderson Progress Property Services director.

"We will continue to give a high quality service to our own tenants, but we want a more diverse customer base over the North West," added Gary.