ALMOST 80 houses are set to be demolished in a North-East town in a £200,000 project.

Sedgefield Borough Council plans to demolish 77 houses and several garages in Newton Aycliffe and Ferryhill.

The houses set for demolition include properties in Linden Place, Langdale Place, Silverdale Place, Aldfrid Place, Osric Place, Elmfield Place, Tanfield Place, Bates Close, Kirkstone Place and Whinlatter Place, all in Newton Aycliffe.

Garages in Fern Grove, Middlestone Moor, Travellers Green, Newton Aycliffe, Hackworth Street, Ferryhill, and Duncombe Terrace, in Ferryhill, also face the bulldozer.

These are all empty dwellings and the programme of demolition is part of an empty property strategy the council adopted in February.

After the demolition, the foundations of the houses will be removed, along with footpaths and fencing. It will then be levelled and graded with top soil.

Several other properties have also been recommended for demolition in the borough in order to prevent vandalism and misuse and to reduce the risk of fire and danger to local residents.

These properties are at Callerton Rise and Linden Place, Newton Aycliffe, and Helmsley Close in Ferryhill. Garages in Linden Place and Travellers Green, Newton Aycliffe, are also recommended for demolition.

Councillors of the executive committee for Sedgefield Borough Council will consider approving the spending, and approving the extra demolition, at a meeting tomorrow.