FAMILIES across the North-East have pledged to support a couple threatening to sue a council over the drop in their house value.

Frank and Sylvia Bowe blame Wear Valley District Council for letting the area deteriorate so much that the value of their home has almost halved in recent years.

Since going public with their views, Frank has received a flood of encouragement calls from people in similar situations across the region.

Mr Bowe, 60, said: "It's sad that others are in similar situations, but it makes us all the more determined to see something done to improve the area."

The couple bought the former council house in Melrose Drive, St Helen Estate, near Bishop Auckland, 13 years ago when it was valued at £21,000. Four years later it was worth £32,000.

But when they recently considered leaving the area, after 25 years, they were told its value had fallen to £17,000.

Mrs Bowe, 56, said: "I cried. This used to be a popular place and driving through the village it still looks pleasant. But that's just on the surface, the estate is nick-named Beirut.

"We have two grandsons, aged three and eight, who rarely visit us at home because of the state the area is in."

Rows of boarded-up empty houses are easy targets for gangs of vandals but Mr and Mrs Bowe feel the council should have prevented the estate falling into a state of disrepair before these problems started.

Mr Bowe said: "My main concern is over the devaluation of our property, second hand static caravans are worth more. We feel like moving but cannot sell the house for a reasonable price, the council needs to do something to improve the area.

"I'm seeking legal advice and am fully prepared to take the council to court, which could be the first case of its kind."

Coun Sunny Douthwaite, who represents St Helen Auckland, says dozens of families are calling for action and he agrees enough is enough.

He said: "The whole area needs improving to give residents a good quality of life.

"I hope the council demolishes some run-down over-crowed terraces and revamps other houses so the people of St Helen's get the pleasant surroundings they deserve."

A spokesperson from Wear Valley District Council's housing department said the council is working on plans to rejuvenate the estate.

He said: "We have started consultating residents over improvement plans.

"Older parts of the estate could be demolished and people re-homed in the new area, where Mr and Mrs Bowe live, if we can fund improvements to the buildings."

Coun Douthwaite added: "Most people don't want to move away from the area but want to see it returned to the attractive, friendly community it was.