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The minister was visiting Manchester to address a seminar at the town hall after the city was awarded beacon status for housing maintenance which recognises excellence in the field.

Under the beacon scheme Manchester City Council will share their expertise with other local authorities across the country.

The tour began with a visit to Crumpsall where Manchester City Council and Irwell Valley Housing Association have established a partnership to deliver a pilot project to safeguard the sustainability of private sector housing in the area.

Ms Armstrong also visited Cheetham Hill where she called at Temple Primary School and viewed plans for the private finance initiative to replace the rundown Victorian building with a modern community school.

She also met some residents living in the Queen's Road improvement area where private houses have had thousands of pounds worth of work carried out to bring them up to modern standards.

The minister also caught a glimpse of improvements at Temple Square where council properties have had new roofing, windows, doors and other modernisation work done.

Funding for the work has come from European and government grants through the Cheetham and Broughton Partnerships Single Regeneration Budget.

Ms Armstrong later went on to Ancoats where the Ancoats Urban Village Company - a partnership including Manchester City Council - is working to regenerate the historic area.

Cllr Leese was proud to show the minister the achievements made so far and plans for the future to prevent sustainable communities decaying and to help others climb out of decline.

He said: "I was delighted to have the opportunity to accompany Hilary Armstrong on what was a whistle stop tour of a selection of successful regeneration projects currently underway in Manchester, including the innovative project in Crumpsall, and some areas which are set to benefit from regeneration in the future."