Tudor council homes auctioned off

The thatched council cottages are in Tattingstone in Suffolk

Two of the oldest council houses in England, built around the time of Henry VIII's reign, have been sold in auction for £169,000 each.

The pair of derelict thatched cottages, in Tattingstone, Suffolk, were sold by Babergh District Council to raise funds for affordable housing.

The council decided to sell the homes after it was revealed renovation work could cost in the region of £40,000.

The council decided it would be better to save the money to help with housing.

A landowner built the houses during the early 1500s as homes for farm labourers.

The houses were sold at an auction at the Suffolk Showground.

Babergh has pledged to have 700 new, affordable homes built - or in the development pipeline - by 2010.

Chris Foti, Babergh's head of community development, said: "We are delighted with the result.

"The sales mean not only do those purchasing the properties gain a new home but that Babergh will be able to provide more affordable homes for more people."