SIX council housing tenants are quids in after paying their rent on time.

The six were winners of a draw launched by Swindon council to repay regular payers and tenants who maintain their properties.

The lottery is run four times a year with each draw offering one prize of £500 and five of £100.

The cabinet member for health, housing and adult social care, Coun David Renard, said: "Much time, money and effort is spent dealing with the difficult tenants we have and this is our way of giving a little back to those who pay their rent on time, live peacefully and contribute to their communities.

"It is an excellent reward system and part of our overall strategy to reduce rent arrears."

To qualify, tenants must keep a clear rent account three months prior to the rent-free weeks.

They must not have breached tenancy agreements for anything other than rent arrears in the previous 12 months.

The five £100 rewards will be available to tenants who are in arrears and pay in line with a formal arrangement without fail during the qualifying period.

Successful rent arrear tenants will have to donate £25 of the payments to their rent accounts.