A CAMPAIGN to stop the demolition of 1,500 homes in a Teesside town is to continue - despite a poll showing that a majority of residents support the proposals.

The results from the Mori survey will be used to back Middlesbrough Borough Council's case for Government funding for the £160m regeneration scheme, together with support from the council's 1,250-member citizens' voiceover panel for house modernisation,

There are 1,500 terraced houses in central Middlesbrough earmarked for demolition, but Mori carried out only 619 face to face interviews.

The poll said 72 per cent of residents agreed that the council proposals, which include refurbishment of 6,000 homes and the building of 750 new homes, would improve the area.

Eighty-two per cent of residents agreed that houses needed modernising, with six per cent disagreeing. And 71 per cent of residents living in older housing areas supported demolition - on condition those losing their houses were offered similar or better homes and compensated.

In a town-wide survey Mori found 77 per cent in favour of demolition with 12 per cent against.

Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon said: "These findings show that across Middlesbrough and in the area directly affected by housing market failure, the majority of people support what we want to do. We are not surprised by that; the problem is there for all to see.''

Residents claim the poll is flawed and are not convinced by Mr Mallon's reassurances that residents whose homes are to be flattened will be compensated.

Mr Mallon told a meeting of the council's executive yesterday: "If I thought the public were not going to be looked after I would derail it just like that, and I would not think twice. The public will get what they should get, full stop.''

Ash Marron, a spokesman for the residents in the Gresham ward, said: "I still want a roof over my head and I intend to stay in my house.''

Gresham ward councillor Ken Walker said: "For the people of Gresham it's business as usual.

"And that business is to ensure the community stays intact and what we get is real investment for regeneration; not demolition which will decimate the community.''

He says he wants to see a list of the "wish-list'' questions asked by Mori and if people were asked outright if they supported the mass demolition of 1,500 homes.