RESIDENTS living in a historic area of Hartlepool are being reassured there is no plan to demolish a shopping precinct and residential area.

Following a lot of rumours, Tim White, Hartlepool Borough Council's director or regeneration and planning, has said Northgate, on the Headland, will not be bulldozed.

Mr White said: "There is certainly no plan. We are working with consultants on a feasibility study aimed at breathing new life into the Headland, but any suggestion that Northgate will be demolished is without foundation.

"Instead, there is a scheme offering commercial improvement grants to Northgate property owners."

Two years ago, the council was successful in winning almost £8m of Government single regeneration budget money to revive the Headland through a series of job creating, environmental and housing projects.

Improvements so far include restoring the promenade, an uplift to Redheugh Gardens, helping to create a community centre and the Abbey Street youth project, and renovating some of the Headland's most historic buildings.