FIFE Council has confirmed it has "regrettably" terminated contracts with a housebuilder who had been due to build over 200 affordable homes across the Kingdom.

First Endeavour LLP have sites in Lochore, Lumphinnans, Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy however work halted in December and the council has today confirmed they have "secured control" of the sites.

One of the sites was the New Flockhouse development in Lochore where 51 affordable homes were to be created. A further 97 were also due to be built on Lochgelly Road, Lumphinnans.

Housing spokesperson, Cllr Judy Hamilton said: “This is a very unfortunate situation for all involved and not the outcome we would have hoped for.

"Contracts will be dealt with through the council’s procedure and, moving forward, we need to ensure that these much-needed new council houses can be built and allocated with the minimum of delays.”

The council will move on to the next stage of working with construction partners to complete the build of these new council.

The news come at a time when Fife Council will today be asked to declare a housing emergency a claim that the Scottish Government "do not care".

Dunfermline Lib Dem councillor James Calder has backed a motion due to be raised at a meeting of Fife Council this morning highlighting the "crisis" in the Kingdom with demand for homes far outstripping supply.

He said it followed a warning in January that an emergency would be declared in Fife if ministers followed through with the proposed 26 per cent in funding for the affordable housing programme, which will "impact" on the council's plans to build more homes.