ADA Naisbitt lives in climate of fear far removed from the atmosphere she enjoyed when Horden was a thriving colliery town.

Streets where children once played and mothers gathered on corners to chat are now empty with dozens of homes boarded up.

Mrs Naisbitt, 86, said: “We used to be able to leave our doors open. Mine is always locked now and if anyone knocked when it’s dark I won’t go and answer it.

“And I never go out in the yard in the dark.”

Mrs Naisbitt, who owns the home she bought with her late husband, spoke as Accent housing association announced that it was seeking to sell its homes in Horden.

She said: “Horden used to be a thriving town when the colliery was open.

“I never left my street without speaking to someone. Everybody knew everybody.

“Now you out and nobody speaks you don’t who they are – there are that many new people who came into the town.

“I have been living here for 40 years. Things did not change for a long time after the pit closed.

“We had a chance of buying our house for £4,500, but they were sold to housing people for £1,000 each.

“It wasn’t too bad at first. But it gradually deteriorated and deteriorated and it has got much worse now.

“There have never been so many houses empty. There are five houses empty in my street now.

“It’s absolutely terrible now. Everybody used to have pride in their houses. It’s terrible now and just getting worse.

Mrs Naisbitt, who served as an Easington district councillor for 36 years and became an Alderman said she backed plans by residents to take over running the properties.

She said: “I think it’s fantastic, but it won’t happen overnight.

“I do hope the people of this village get behind them and help out.