CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a neighbourhood from the bulldozer are calling for a town-wide referendum.

Middlesbrough Council is being challenged to conduct the poll by the residents' action group, Middlesbrough for Positive Regeneration.

The protestors, who are objecting to council plans to raze 1,500 old terraced houses in central Middlesbrough, are contesting claims that a Mori survey found a majority of people in favour of the plan.

Objectors' spokesman Ashley Marron said: "I fear the good name of Mori has been used and abused by Middlesbrough Council to shore up their flagging case for demolition."

He has written to Mori, stating that only 619 face-to-face interviews were carried out, yet the lives of 4,000 people will be directly affected if demolition plans in the Gresham neighbourhood go ahead.

Mayor Ray Mallon has warned Middlesbrough will become a ghost town unless radical action is taken to stop a population drift and build houses people want.

But Mr Marron countered: "If the mayor and his council want to conduct a wider popular vote, then they should call a town-wide referendum on the issue."

Councillor Dave Budd, Middlesbrough Council's executive member for regeneration, said: "The results of the Mori survey of residents of inner Middlesbrough are posted on the council's wesbite for everyone to see.

"The responses show that between 70 and 80 per cent agree that our proposals will improve the area, agree that houses need modernising and support demolition, provided we compensate people properly, which of course, we have promised we will do.

"There could be no clearer indication of the support for our regeneration and investment plans among people living in inner Middlesbrough."

He claimed a survey of residents town-wide showed similar levels of support for the plans.

Coun Budd added: "We will shortly begin a master-planning exercise which will involve residents of inner Middlesbrough in working out in detail how the plans will work, street by street and neighbourhood by neighbourhood."

A Middlesbrough Council spokesman said: "The council has taken its decision after extensive consultation. In these circumstances, it would be difficult in the extreme to justify the substantial public expenditure for the kind of exercise advocated by Mr Marron."

A spokesman for Mori said: "We do a lot of research around contentious issues, such as housing redevelopment, and we are very careful in protecting our good name in making sure the questions and questionnaires we put out to members of the public are fair and balanced."