DEMOLITION of homes at the bottom of a steep hill has been halted because knocking them down could make properties further up unsafe.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has stopped work in Queen Street, Darwen, for an investigation into the effect it would have on properties higher up the hill in Harwood Street.

Residents are outraged by the council's latest move and are calling for the area to be returned to its original state.

The terraced houses in Harwood Street, which residents have fought successfully to keep, are parallel to those at the bottom of Queen Street, which are part of a clearance area under the housing market renewal scheme.

The council is conducting an investigation to find out whether the steep slope, which they have been built on, could affect the structure of the remaining houses if those at the bottom of the hill are knocked down.

The housing market renewal scheme is a multi-million pound investment from Blackburn with Darwen Council and Elevate to rejuvenate Hindle Street, Harwood Street and Queen Street.

Catherine Brogan, 70, of Harwood Street, said: "I feel it was just a mistake and I feel sorry for the people who moved out of the proprties in Queen Street. And I'm sorry for everyone who has to go through all this. The houses should be done up."

Denyse Perry, of Harwood Street, chair of the local residents' association said: "I wish I could click my fingers and go back five years. I believe the problems in the area have been caused by the housing market renewal scheme. They must have known about the problem from a survey they did in 2006."

Taz Khan, 49, who has lived in Queen Street for 27 years, said: "I am very unhappy about the situation.

"I am the only resident left on Queen Street. Surely they would have known about any problems with the sloping land before they started demolishing and buying the sites."

Sayyed Osman, deputy director of housing and environment for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "The investigations concerned the demolition of the homes in Queen Street. The houses in Queen Street are at the bottom of a steep slope and Harwood Street, which is not in the clearance area, runs parallel above.

"As the slope is so steep, there were fears that the demolition of the bottom houses on Queen Street could have an affect on the structure of the higher properties in Harwood Street. There are no guarantees anything would happen, but because of health and safety laws, the council has decided not to take any risks at all.

"We don't want to risk any structural damage or ground movement in the area arising from the demolition of Queen Street because of the commitment we have given to Harwood Street residents that the properties would not be cleared."