People in sheltered housing schemes have been given a reprieve by the city council following a review.

The elderly men and women in developments such as Stonehurst Court in Brighton feared their homes would be converted into other uses.

Improvements are being made to these ageing blocks to make them more attractive to the tenants.

The council's commitment is welcome for the current tenants. But if these flats remain with vacancies, this cannot be allowed to continue in the long term.

There is no way in which a city with cash problems and a housing crisis could allow homes it owns to remain empty indefinitely.