A RUNDOWN former residential home that has become a vandalism hot-spot since it closed looks set to be demolished.

Albion House, in the centre of Willington, closed about 18 months ago as part of a countywide shake-up of care provision for the elderly.

Since then, the owner Durham County Council has failed to find a buyer for the site and it has become a dangerous playground for youngsters in the town and an eyesore to residents and visitors.

The council is now answering the pleas of residents and local councillors by seeking to have the building pulled down.

County councillor Brian Myers, who chairs Willington Community Partnership, said: "I certainly welcome any moves to sort out the problem. At first I didn't want to see Albion House pulled dow but it has become such a problem it has to come down, for health and safety reasons if nothing else.

"Kids breaking in is a regular occurrence and residents were getting sick of the anti-social behaviour it seems to attract in its current state." The county council's urban renaissance officers are working with local groups to draw up a development brief for the site and have applied to Wear Valley District Council for permission to demolish it.

The removal of the building will be another important step towards regeneration of the town, which has recently seen the completion of a £450,000 town green project.

The nearby former PriceLess store, which has stood empty for more than 15 years is also thought to have attracted the interest of a furniture trader so could be re-occupied in the near future.

Coun Myers added: "To see Albion House removed would be a positive move but any redevelopment must be sympathetic to the area and compliment the work done through the town green project."