Thousands of council tenants in Norwich still waiting for their windows to be replaced have been told the improvements will be made within two years - after the city council signed a �7.2m deal.

Frustrated tenants were forced to wait for new windows after contractor Connaught went into administration last autumn in the midst of a programme of fitting new PVC windows to 16,000 council homes.

Anglian Windows was awarded an emergency temporary contract to ensure some work could still be carried out and earlier this year Norwich City Council agreed to committ millions of pounds for a contract to carry out the rest of the work. This week it was revealed that Anglian Building Products, the commercial division of Anglian Home Improvements, had been awarded that contract by the city council.

The company, based at Hurricane Way in Hellesdon, says it will be starting work to replace the remaining windows this summer.

A spokeswoman for Norwich City Council said: 'We are expecting that, once this contract concludes, that will complete the window replacement programme.

'Once we have done this, then everyone who is eligible for the programme will have had their windows replaced. That's expected to happen within 18 months to two years. 'we are planning the working schedule now and will know soon where the work is going to be done first.'

Anglian Building Products has also won a window replacement contract with housing association Flagship Housing, to replace windows and doors in the social housing it provides.

Ross St Quintin, sales director of Anglian Building Products, said: 'We're delighted to be awarded these prestigious contracts by Norwich City Council and Flagship Housing.

'With lots of focus on building energy efficient new housing it's also important that existing housing stock features the latest in energy efficient doors and windows.

'The savings in energy costs for tenants and carbon emissions for the environment cannot be overstated and we're delighted to be working with both Norwich City Council and Flagship Housing to make this happen.'

The Evening News reported yesterday how tenants in Plantsman Close in Eaton had started a petition to get their windows replaced after delays in the work starting.

Families in Finkelgate and Alderson Place, off Queens Road in Norwich, have also vented anger about their wait for windows.

Last August they hung banners around their homes and painted a fence bright purple to highlight their feelings over their rotten windows.

• What do you think of the council's window replacement programme? Write to Evening News Letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE or email eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk