FAMILIES whose homes could be demolished will find out their fate when councillors meet today to make a decision about the estate.

Wear Valley District Council's housing committee will discuss plans for 120 Drury-built homes on Bishop Auckland's St Andrew's Estate.

Council officials say 120 houses and bungalows in Cuthbert's Walk and St Aidan's Walk are too dangerous to leave standing because they have asbestos in the walls and corrosive salts in the concrete foundations.

People who purchased the properties under the right-to-buy scheme could lose thousands of pounds if the council or a developer buys the homes for their site value.

The council's legal advisors says the authority is not liable to compensate people because the defects were not known at the time of the sales.

Some owners say the council did know.

If the plans are approved, demolition will start early next year.

Opposition Councillor Chris Foote Wood has worked with residents to draw up a list of requests from Wear Valley District Council, including compensation. They are also opposed to a phased demolition programme which would leave some residents living among dereliction.

Councillors at today's meeting, at Crook Civic Centre, at 2.30pm, will also make a decision over plans to demolish houses on St Helen Auckland's old and new estates.