RESIDENTS whose homes are being threatened with demolition are determined to continue rallying support to stop the bulldozers.

The Gresham area of Middlesbrough is to lose 37 streets if the council's proposals to pull down 1,500 terraced houses in the town centre are approved.

Ward councillor Ken Walker is helping the residents organise a public meeting to maintain the pressure on council bosses.

He said: "The local residents intend to continue to fight the plans to demolish their homes because they won't let the council rip the heart out of their community.

"We have got to start fighting this on two fronts - if they are to pull down the homes, people want a suitable compensation package and we want to know the real reason why they want the land."

The meeting at Liberty's pub, in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, takes place on Monday, at 7pm. The campaigners have been contacting more than 4,000 homes to ensure the council realises they mean business.

Pamela Davies, who lives in Tennyson Street, Gresham, said the campaigners are hoping for at least 200 residents to attend, as well as the council bosses they hope to influence.

"We know what we are doing and we know we can beat the council if all the residents stick together," she said.

Neighbour Peter Birt said: "We are the people who make Middlesbrough tick and these plans will see the heart being ripped out of the town. Despite what some people might think and say about Gresham. We are a close-knit community and we make sure we look after our own."

Campaigners are hopeful that by sustaining the pressure on council bosses, they will be able to save their homes.

Coun Walker said: "These people will not give up and just roll over, they will fight for what they deserve."