Potential home owners in the Forth Valley region are being offered the chance to be matched with their 'dream home' thanks to a new scheme from the Forth Valley Empty Homes Project.

Launched in April 2013, Property Matchmaker is a free 'dating agency' for empty homes and aims to connect people who want to purchase an empty property with homeowners who are selling and have a property matching the buyer's criteria.

Property Matchmaker aims to bring 'stuck' properties in the Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling Council areas back into use.

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Properties are considered 'stuck' if they have been lying empty for six months or longer and many are in need of repair.

For those buyers who sign up with the scheme can choose how much repair work they would like to take on, which varies from some decorating work to the complete revamp of a property.

Clackmannanshire Housing Convener Les Sharp explained: "This service is good news for Clackmannanshire. Increasing the number of affordable homes available to rent and buy is a priority for the Council, and empty homes are a wasted resource that could be helping to meet the area's housing need. They can also have a negative impact on our communities, and so I welcome this project."

There are currently 1,600 empty homes across the Forth Valley.

(JP/MH)