RESIDENTS campaigning to save their homes pleaded with council officials to "listen to the community" during a heated meeting last night.

The meeting was organised in response to pleas for more information about the proposed clearance plans for the Redearth Street area of Darwen.

A decision was made to demolish the houses, as opposed to renovating them after they were classed as unfit for human habitation.

The work is part of the massive Elevate scheme to breathe new life into East Lancashire's housing.

The future of houses in Franklin Street, Redearth Road, Hannah Street, Lower Cross Street, Sudell Road and Sunnybank Street will be decided at the meeting of the executive on September 16.

Blackburn with Darwen Council announced that out of 149, 135 needed major repairs and 129 were classed as unfit under government guidelines.

The meeting was called by Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Kate Hollern and MP Janet Anderson to try and deal with people's fears.

But residents insisted that the surveys were not carried out properly and shouts of "listen to the community" could be heard during the meeting.

Brian Clancy, an independent chartered surveyor acting on behalf of people in Lower Cross Street, Redearth Road and Sudell Road, questioned the surveys.

He said: "I have looked at eight properties in some detail. Three I considered in excellent condition, three needed nothing more than normal maintenance and two required some improvement work costing £4,000.

"I believe the conclusions of the surveys were wrong. Two of the things that all these properties have been condemned on is pavements and the lack of street lighting, both which are the responsibility of the local authority."

But Graham Burgess, director of regeneration, explained that council staff had also done spot checks on some houses and found the surveys on those homes to be right.

Mr Burgess said everyone would get the market value of their home as it was before the survey was done.

Another meeting is expected to be arranged before the executive meeting on September 16.