EYESORE flats are to be demolished on Teesside - and residents are already cheering at the news.

The total of 40 one-bedroom flats in Middlesbrough's Grove Hill and Pallister Park estates are plagued by vandals and criminals who wreak havoc and misery for families living close by.

The blocks, in Daleville Close and Keithwood Close in Grove Hill, Cottingham Drive and Fransham Road, on Pallister Park, have had a high turnover and proved difficult to let, with a lack of demand from those on the house waiting list.

Erimus, the organisation which sees to the day-to-day management of council houses in Middlesbrough, has now applied to Middlesbrough Council for permission to knock down the properties.

If the organisation is given the green light, work will start late next month, with the sites grassed over.

Chris Smith, director of regeneration for Erimus Housing, said: "The residents told us that these were a problem, affecting people's quality of life, and they wanted to do something about them.

"So we decided to take some early action on a scheme that would be a positive step for residents and help improve their communities."

Pallister Park resident Ray Woodger said: "I will be really glad to see the flats come down. People have wanted this for a long time. It will make a very big difference to the people of Pallister Park.''