SECURITY fears have led some residents from an estate badly affected by flooding to move back into their homes – despite advice to leave.

After severe rainfall gouged out material from under a four-storey development, riighht, in Newburn, Newcastle, people living in surrounding homes in Mill Vale were advised to move out.

But now, concerned about an apparent lack of security on the site, some have moved back to protect their homes.

There is also anger among residents as Dunelm Homes, the Newton Aycliffe-based developer of the estate, has a house in Mill Vale listed as its Home of the Week.

On its website, the development is described as “hidden by deciduous woodland, providing all the peace and tranquility of the countryside”.

Dave Moir, 35, who has lived on the estate for seven years, said: ‘‘We are all feeling confused and scared and we want to be proactively informed.

‘‘We were promised 24-hour security but that has not been the case and people are walking through all the time.”

There is also a fear that more rain this week could cause further flooding.

As a result people living in Mill Vale were advised to leave their homes but were given the choice of whether or not they did.

A spokesman for Dunelm said: ‘‘Despite implications to the contrary by others, Dunelm Homes has provided much practical support this week to residents and other parties involved through its team on site. The fact remains the events leading up to this situation were, and are, out of our control and not our responsibility.”