A NEW action group has been formed to fight a council's plans to demolish 1,500 terrace houses.

Communities Under Threat (Cut) has been formed to "retain and defend an existing thriving and sustainable multi-cultural, multi-racial community in central Middlesbrough and to seek measures to improve it".

The residents' group says mass demolition is not the way to regenerate the area.

The group is working with independent campaigning charity, the Empty Homes Agency, to draw up alternative plans and ideas.

John Earnshaw, a project manager for the agency, said: "I will be advising community groups on the courses of action available and how they can move forward.

"What I find in a lot of situations, with no disrespect to residents who are doing an excellent job, is that they lack leadership and resources and sometimes end up going round in circles.''

He said the charity had enjoyed success across the country in reducing the final number of demolitions.

Resident Peter Birt, the chairman of Cut, said: "I really feel this is the defining moment in the campaign to preserve our much-loved homes and community."

Councillor David Budd, Middlesbrough Council executive member for regeneration, said: "Sadly, Gresham and Middlehaven are not thriving and sustainable neighbourhoods at the moment.

"That is illustrated by the high number of empty properties there, and by the fact that so few people want to move there to make their homes.

"That is why any plans which fail to tackle the oversupply of unpopular housing, alongside improving the local environment, housing choice and quality of life will not work.

"We have developed our plans by consulting local people. They involve refurbishing homes, building new homes and demolition to tackle over-supply.

"They have attracted support and substantial resources locally, regionally and nationally.''

Residents have lobbied Prime Minister Tony Blair and John Prescott. More recently, the Ombudsman rejected complaints from eight residents about Middlesbrough council's consultation.

Ombudsman Celia Denton said she was satisfied the council, "took proper account of the various views expressed by the public".

She found no evidence of maladministration behind the council's decision, made in July, 2005.