THE Prime Minister is being urged to stop plans to demolish 1,500 homes on Teesside.

Pleas are being sent to Tony Blair and his deputy, John Prescott, from residents fighting to save their homes in central Middlesbrough.

Residents are poised to send a deputation to meet Mr Prescott following a Middlesbrough Council ruling that the plans will go ahead.

In the meantime, he and Mr Blair are being invited to visit Middlesbrough's threatened Gresham community.

Claims that some houses will be torn down to make way for a service road for shops and bars on Linthorpe Road were not denied by Middlesbrough Council yesterday.

Gresham ward Councillor Ken Walker, who has written to Mr Prescott, asking for talks, said: "This is one of the best examples in Great Britain of a diverse, multicultural community living together in harmony.

"I have suggested the Prime Minister comes and sees for himself. And this is what Middlesbrough Council want to destroy in the name of private investors and speculators.''

He said: "Demolition on such a vast scale will create a multi-million pound brownfield site. This is nothing to do with people, but it's about putting profits first, which I find unacceptable.''

Resident Majakid Aslam said: "Our community is going to be completely wiped out when there is nothing wrong with the houses at all.''

Residents' spokesman Ashley Marron said: "We are completely devastated. But we still live in a proper democracy and have got faith that we will win.''

Council officials have argued that smaller-scale selective demolition would fail to attract Government money.

Eddie Johnson who lives in demolition-threatened Tennyson Street, said: " What we are against is unnecessary demolition - the sheer scale of it.''

He has written inviting Mr Blair to visit the community.

Councillor David Budd, council cabinet member for regeneration, said: "It is not surprising people are reacting that way. It is understandable and I would not have any argument with that at all, but when we get into detail and are able to approach people as individuals and show them what the options are, I am sure they will react in a different way.''