A council has been criticised in an independent report over the "poor" quality of its housing services.

Salford City Council was given no stars by inspectors who highlighted its "serious weaknesses".

The Audit Commission said it did not focus sufficiently on customer needs and was wasting some of its �114m budget.

The city council has promised "radical changes" to improve its service.

Lacking strategy

Salford - which is the 28th most deprived area in the UK - has almost 30,000 council homes.

But its service was criticised for not being cost effective and lacking strategy.

Inspectors were also worried that repair work on some properties, including gas servicing, was falling behind.

They recommended increased tenant involvement in running the service to ensure it was geared towards their needs.

Salford Council has promised "radical" changes

It also said if people were given more choice over where they were housed it would strengthen the city's community spirit.

However, it did praise the authority's successful housing regeneration projects and tackling of anti-social behaviour.

Salford City Council's lead member for housing, Councillor John Warmisham, said it accepted the criticisms of the report.

A new housing company - New Prospect Housing Ltd - had now been set up to implement the required changes.

He added: "We have been disappointed by some of the findings of the report, as we feel it could show more of the hard work we have done to improve services.

"However, we accept the decisive action was needed - that's why we've radically changed the way the service is provided in the city."

Nick Atkin, the commission's acting lead housing inspector for the north, said: "The improvement plan is broad and ambitious and the necessary resources have been identified to deliver it.

"However, the scale of the task is considerable and reflects the relatively low base, when compared with similar authorities, that the service is starting from."