ANGRY homeowners are demanding compensation after experts discovered dozens of properties are poisoned with arsenic and zinc.

Ninety-one homes on an estate in Hartlepool are affected and owners fear house prices will plummet.

Council chiefs are now taking legal action against the former landowners and the company which built the properties in the 1970s.

At a meeting of Hartlepool Borough Council's cabinet yesterday, more than 20 householders called for a swift solution to be found.

But council officials warned that it could take several years for the problem to be resolved for those living in Wainwright Walk, Wainwright Close, Hornby Close, Cowley Close and Lithgo Close, in Seaton Carew.

The problem emerged in October last year when unusually high levels of lead, arsenic and zinc were discovered on land surrounding 97 homes, and tests were carried out in the grounds of the properties.

The gardens of the 91 affected homes will have to be excavated but work will not start until either the former landowners or the developers - or both - accept liability and pay for it.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs is expected to meet the £250,000 cost of the investigation, but the bills for legal action will have to be paid by taxpayers.

Mayor Stuart Drummond said: "The cost of the remediation works will not, at any stage, fall on the residents."

Councillor Ray Waller said: "It is rather difficult and unfortunate that this council is having to pick up all of these responsibilities."

One householder said: "The Government can find money for disaster funds and to us this is a disaster."

The land was used as a storage area for pit props treated with preservatives from the early 1900s until the 1960s, but experts believe the contamination could be caused by ash that was dumped there from coke works.

By the end of this week, homeowners should know how badly affected individual houses are by indoor dust.

But a report at yesterday's meeting warned: "It should be understood that case history from other authorities shows that it can be several years from the serving of the determination notice to a start of remediation on site - the intervening period being taken up largely by the legal process.