PROMPT action has been promised to improve properties on a Newton Aycliffe estate to prove the council's long-term commitment to the area.

People living in Aycliffe's West Ward fear that Sedgefield Borough Council is planning wholesale demolition of houses and flats.

The council has knocked down a number of problem properties and more demolitions are planned, but the authority has consistently denied having a hidden agenda to clear the estate.

More than 100 residents were at Greenfield Meeting Hall this week to question the council's housing policy manager, Denis Scarr.

During a lively and at times bad tempered meeting, Mr Scarr said the council was using "a scalpel rather than a hammer" to get rid of unlettable properties and improve the area overall.

He said: "There are not any secret plans for the demolition of the area. If there was a secret plan I would know about it and I don't. There is a public plan, which is the housing strategy, which actually looks to develop the community with the assistance of the residents' group."

One resident asked for a guarantee that his house and other properties would not be pulled down.

Mr Scarr said: "I couldn't even give you that assurance for the town centre in Newton Aycliffe. What I am saying is the council will only intervene in an area if there is a need to."

Residents said they remained unconvinced, arguing that the ward had been neglected by the council for repairs and improvements.

Some said windows were so rotten that only the moss around the edges was keeping the glass from falling out.

Mr Scarr said there was a window replacement programme which could be brought forward. After the meeting, he said: "I think what we need to do is put together some kind of action plan for the area. We need to look at demonstrating our support in very practical ways, and we need to work with them come up with a short term plan and do something pretty quickly.

"I came away from the meeting left in no doubt as to the strength of feeling, and we need to demonstrate that we are committed to the area."