RESIDENTS who have been told that their homes are to be demolished following extensive flood damage are demanding answers from the developer, landowner and council.

Spencer Court, in Newburn, Newcastle, has been condemned after water from a collapsed culvert washed away ground around its foundations, leaving it on the verge of toppling.

Newton Aycliffe -based Dunelm Homes, part of the Esh Group, which built the three-storey block of flats, said last night it cannot be held responsible for the floodwater, but it is providing practical support for residents.

The land is owned by the Duke of Northumberland ’s Northumberland Estates.

Those living in nearby blocks in Hareside Walk, Hareside and Mill Vale were also evacuated amid fears they could also be affected.

A spokesman for Dunelm Homes said it was “extremely sorry” for all of the families affected by the events, but added: “The fact remains that the events leading up to this situation were, and are, out of our control and not our responsibility.

“We have acted with the thoroughness and rigour with which we conduct our business and the care with which we work with our customers.”

The spokesman said the firm would offer residents legal and insurance advice at its expense.

Elaine Boynton, who owns a home in Mill Vale, said: “We bought houses in good faith.

We just feel really unsafe. We just want to know things like where we are going to go if it happens again because a lot of people have young kids.

“It has been poor delivery from both Dunelm and the Duke of Northumberland Estates.

They should be trying to make provisions so that we feel safe in our own homes.”

A spokesman for Northumberland Estates, which owns part of the affected land, said: “Since the culvert collapse, we have been working very hard to resolve what is an extremely complex engineering problem, given that the culvert lies 12 metres below ground and the land itself is proving to be highly unstable.”

Newcastle City Council, which granted planning permission for the development, last night announced an inquiry into the Newburn flooding.

John Gordon, of Newcastle’s independent political party Newcastle Community First, said that the development should never have been built.

He said: “I am demanding that Northumberland Estates, Dunelm Homes and Newcastle City Council accept their part in creating this mess, apologise and take steps to compensate the residents.

Heads should roll for causing this disaster.”