CAMPAIGNERS fighting a proposed shake-up of a borough council's entire housing stock have accused the authority of playing dirty tricks.

Sedgefield Borough Council hopes to transfer its 9,200 homes to a housing organisation believing it will lead to extra investment to improve living standards.

This week, the Electoral Reform Ballot Services started a tenants' ballot on the proposed transfer of ownership and management of properties to a non profit-making organisation called Sedgefield Housing.

Union officials and tenants, who are against the proposed transfer, say they have been purposefully pushed out of the campaign at a vital stage with several leaders away from the borough this week.

Key figures from Sedgefield Against Transfer - Pat Allen, Unison branch secretary, and Derek Taylor, assistant branch secretary and treasurer - are attending the union's conference in Glasgow this week.

Mrs Allen, herself a tenant, said: "As soon as we left for Scotland ballot papers were posted, which seems like a dirty trick to me.

"Most people will probably vote within a few days and with key members of the 'no' campaign away from Sedgefield we can't put our views across at the time they make their decisions."

Pat McCourt, who is leading protest group Defend Council Housing's campaign in Sedgefield, also feels his canvassing has been hit.

Mr McCourt, Amicus shop steward, said: "Maintenance craft workers are on training courses so I've been unable to take holidays to campaign fully.

"It seems like an orchestrated attempt to maximise the start of the ballot in favour of transfer while activists involved in the 'no' campaign are tied up."

Campaigners oppose large-scale voluntary transfer fearing it will lead to less tenancy security, less accountability and worse services.

Sedgefield Borough Council chief executive Norman Vaulks said: "We did not know where these people would be and there was no conscious decision to start the ballot while they have other commitments.

"Tenants say they've had lots of information from all sides and they want to vote as soon as possible.

"We have always made it clear that if a ballot was held it would be in summer.

"We think transfer would be a good deal for tenants and workers and want to give tenants the right to vote either way." The ballot closes at noon on Tuesday, July 19.