RESIDENTS on a housing development fear their homes are crumbling away -- less than three years after they were built.

Builders Morris Homes is investigating what is causing the £70,000-£100,000 houses to crumble.

They today blamed the extreme weather conditions -- mainly rain and cold -- for the problems being experienced by residents living in Meadowvale, on the Oakdale estate between Blackburn and Darwen.

The firm also says it is the first time it has happened to them. There are several hundred homes on the estate, built by several firms including McAlpine, Beazer Homes, Crowther and Maunders, although none of the other companies are believed to be affected.

Councillors and experts were today baffled by the firm's explanation about the weather and said: "It's the same as it always has been."

And a councillor called for a list of suitable building materials to be drawn up for use in the area.

At least 12 houses have so far shown signs of crumbling -- or flaking as Morris describe it -- all of which were built using a light yellow brick called Harvest Buff, made by Baggeridge Bricks.

The firm said today they were working with Morris Homes to find a solution.

A number of families on the estate have confirmed they are affected and say they regularly have to sweep up bits of brick from around their homes.

Martin Hewitt, who moved in to his detached home three years ago and has a wife and young child, said: "We aren't so much concerned that it is unsafe to live in as the fact we might be losing our money.

"We aren't just talking about small flakes coming off. On some of the houses, you can clearly see chimneys changing shape and walls looking worse. "We have been talking about this to Morris Homes for months and months but nothing seems to be done."

He added: "From what we have been told, water has been absorbed into the brick work and has frozen, causing bits of the bricks to fall off when they have expanded.

"Morris have blamed the weather but I don't think the last year has been any worse than normal.

"We don't want this to drag into a second winter. What will the houses look like then?

A spokesman for Wigan-based Morris Homes, said the company was still trying to find out how serious the problem was and find a suitable solution and refused to be drawn on the issue of compensation, saying remedial work was being planned.

She said: "We are aware of the problems and we are working as quickly as possible to rectify those houses which have affected brickwork.

"We have used this particular brick on other developments for many years and never experienced this problem before.

"This flaking is confined to a very localised areas, those most exposed to the unusually extreme weather this development has experienced over the past six months, including cold temperatures and heavy rainfall.

"The whole thing is down to an unfortunate combination of factors, including the site's exposed location and the severe weather.

"Where any future remedial work is concerned, we will be using a different brick, coloured up to match."

A spokesman for Baggeridge said: "We are aware of the problem here and believe it is to do with the site's exposed nature more than anything."

A spokesman for National House Building Company, the industry regulator, said it was the first time they had heard of such an incident.

He said: "We offer a free resolution service to people who experience difficulties. We would urge the residents affected to contact us."

Coun Paul Browne said: "We need to pay closer consideration to what materials are being used.

"The biggest investment a couple make is usually in a house.

"I will be asking the council to draw up a list for us to use as guidance of what materials are suitable for use in our area." A spokesman for the Meteorgical office in London said: "As a whole, Britain suffered the wettest year on record over the past 12 months and records date back to 1766.

"There were dry spells and East Lancashire is no exception but whether the weather is to blame is hard to say. If it was, surely more buildings around the country would be crumbling."

A spokesman for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors said: "This is something we haven't heard of before.

"Global warming is sometimes jumped on but it sounds as if the fact the site was so exposed to the elements has been overlooked. It should always be a priority."