WIGAN Council can congratulate itself on a premium insurance triumph.

The first year of the new home-contents scheme has succeeded beyond all expectations for the housing department and tenants involved.

More than 2,000 - over seven per cent of tenants - have taken out policies.

Of these, 94 per cent had not had a home insurance policy before and nearly half were pensioners.

Director of Housing Peter Gee said: "A pleasing number of tenants are clearly satisfied that they have done the right thing and we are confident that word will soon get around and many others will sign up.

"We want to increase the take-up figure to ten per cent by the end of the year and will shortly be promoting it further with a prize draw as an incentive.

"The insurers, Aon Ltd, with the financial backing of Norwich Union, have confirmed that the present rates will remain unchanged for the coming year and that the scheme has proved to be financially viable. Any surplus will be used to keep the premiums down in future for the benefit of tenants."

Housing staff carried out a survey which showed policy holders who had made a claim were highly satisfied with the scheme.