TRADERS affected by controversial plans to demolish 1,500 homes in Middlesbrough have expressed concern over their livelihoods.

About 40 businesses will be affected by Middlesbrough Council plans to regenerate terraced housing in the town centre.

The council said Middlesbrough threatened to become a ghost town as house hunters shun older terraced houses, choosing to live in more modern, attractive locations out of the area.

Residents say demolition would turn terraced streets of housing into a prime opportunity for developers, and traders have warned their businesses will suffer.

Shahid Yousaf, 32, the owner of PC Express Computers, Princes Road, is hoping to set up a forum for traders.

Mr Yousaf, who has been in business seven years, said: "We make a living in this area and our primary concern is whether we can put bread and butter on the table.

"I have invested a lot of time and money into the business. I have been very successful and become established."

He said the nearest place he could move to would be Linthorpe Road.

He said: "If we are knocked down, it will be very difficult to relocate to Linthorpe Road. The rates here are a lot lower -about £1,600 -but they will be about £5,000 on Linthorpe Road, so how are we going to survive?"

Dermot and Eileen Speight, the owners of Northern Trophies, whose business in Union Street has been run by their family for 45 years, are also concerned.

Mr Speight said: "Like everyone else, we would like to see something done with the area, but the way the council is conducting things is unacceptable. We will have to relocate if the council gets its way, but we are quite happy here and well established.

"It is very frustrating because we have to plan our business strategy for the future -that is still going ahead regardless of what the council says, but it is hard because we do not have a timescale.

"Others are in fear of the future and what the future holds for them."

A Middlesbrough Council spokesman said: "In the next few weeks, there will be one-to-one visits to all the residents and local traders in the affected area.

"We will discuss with them what the implications are and how we can best assist them in the coming months. We will talk to them on an individual basis."