VILLAGERS are calling for a clean up of two derelict houses they say are blighting their street.

They say the empty homes at the end of Hillside Road, in Coundon, are dangerous and an eyesore.

One was already boarded up when fire swept through the other a few weeks ago. Now both back yards are strewn with rubbish.

Neighbours John and Pauline Coates have asked Wear Valley District Council to take action, even though the homes are privately owned.

Mr Coates said: "My wife is disabled and I worry about her when I go out, in case there is another fire and it spreads to our house.

"It is a disgrace. The houses are an eyesore and the yards have become a dumping ground for rubbish. The end wall looks as though it could go at any time.

"They cast a blight over the whole area and should be cleaned up before someone gets hurt."

Councillor Neil Stonehouse, deputy leader of Wear Valley District Council and a Coundon resident, has conveyed his concerns about the houses to council officers.

He said: "It is a blight and if we are not careful we will end up with a problem area where houses won't sell and bad landlords will step in. We will have to investigate what powers we have to take action."

The council's environmental health officer, Jim Nut, promised action yesterday.

He said: "We have been pressing one of the owners to do something, and boarded up number 17 two weeks ago. We will contact the owners with a view to having the property secured. If we do that we can recover the costs from the house owner. I will send somebody out to clean it up."