RESIDENTS have raised safety concerns over dozens of derelict properties which surround their homes.

People living in Carlton Moor Crescent, on Darlington's Firth Moor estate, are furious that the empty homes have not been properly secured by Darlington Borough Council.

The houses have been scheduled for demolition as part of the regeneration of the Firth Moor estate.

In the meantime, residents who still occupy homes in the area say they are having to put up with noise and disruption because the empty properties are attracting youths and adults who are breaking into the houses and stripping them of useful materials.

There is concern that the houses are in a dangerous state and could collapse.

The bulldozers are due to move in to start knocking them down next week.

Paul Wilson, who lives next to one of the derelict properties, said he is concerned for the safety of his two young children, Sarah, six, and Sammy, four.

"It is alright for the council to say the houses are being demolished, but the situation has been like this for months and nothing has been done," he said.

"There will be no houses to demolish at this rate because they have been stripped down to nothing. We are sick and tired of living in this mini-Beirut and the sooner the houses are knocked down, the better."

Keith Hauxwell, who lives in Eston Moor Crescent, said: "We had our water supply turned off when the property next to us become vacant, and since it came back on it has become contaminated. That is disgraceful."

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said: "Demolition will start next week and until then we have security guards patrolling the area."

Almost 200 houses have already been demolished on the Firth Moor estate, and more than 100 more will be demolished by next year. Tenants affected by demolition will be offered an alternative place to live, a home loss payment, and disturbance payments.

The Social Regeneration Budget Round Six bid for Firth Moor has been submitted, asking for money to help put together a holistic package of projects to tackle the root causes of social exclusion on the estate.