The social housing market in Scotland is being transformed, according to a senior SNP minister.

Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Alex Neil spoke during a visit to the first council housing to be built in Angus for 15 years.

The ten houses for rent in Carnoustie are part of a larger development of the former Kinloch school site which also includes 28 supported housing cottages.

Angus Council's building programme aims to provide a total of 147 new council houses.

Mr Neil said there were currently 1800 council homes under construction in Scotland to meet an urgent demand.

He added: "There's a huge need. If you look at the Scottish figures about 140,000 people needing new houses to socially rent and we're guaranteeing we will build at least 6000 affordable new houses in Scotland every year for the whole period of this Parliament.

"We have got to get the backlog down and as wells as building houses - it will create jobs and safeguard jobs in the building trade and at the moment that's extremely important as well."