PEOPLE who are being plagued by anti-social youths are calling for a condemned estate to be demolished immediately.

A family had to flee from their home in the Grangetown Older Housing Area when the house next door was set on fire by youths on Wednesday night.

Peter Jones, his wife Margaret and their three children aged 16, 25 and 28, were terrified when the blaze broke out at the derelict property just after 9pm.

Mr Jones, a former hotel fire officer who has owned his house on the estate for 18 years, said: "We were all in. My wife was very upset and my children were panicking.

"We want to move away, but we are buying another house from the council and we have been waiting ages for repairs on it to be finished."

Every night a family member is forced to keep guard at the house in Burnsville Road in case youths smash the windows with bricks, throw eggs at the house, or try to break in.

About 200 homes in the area were earmarked for demolition last autumn, but so far most of the derelict houses are still standing.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said yesterday it was waiting for notification from service providers, including gas and electric companies, that the houses were isolated and safe to demolish.

A spokesman said: "We have got the greatest sympathy with the Jones family and all our efforts are being made to get them relocated as soon as possible.

"They are owner-occupiers and are in negotiations over an identified relocation property in Grangetown.

"The family told us about Wednesday night's incident and we immediately made arrangements for the property to be effectively secured."

Most residents, who have received compensation from the council to move out of their homes, have now left the blighted estate.

The chairman of Grangetown Residents' Association Paul Tuffs said: "We need a long-term solution - either putting security fencing around all of the houses or demolishing them quickly.

"These yobs are putting themselves at risk, as well as the emergency services and council workers who have to clear up the mess."

Inspector Mark Thornton, from South Bank and Grangetown police said: "Dereliction does bring curiosity from children, but it is not something that we can really control.

"We would call on parents to make sure they know what their children are doing."