WORK is due to begin on the Brotton Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment which will decide the future of the area.

Surveyors for Fordham Research are contacting 150 households - a third of homes in the study area - from Monday to carry out the survey.

The remaining homes will be asked to fill in a questionnaire and post it back in a stamped addressed envelope provided.

Chris Broughton, of Fordham Research, said: "All responses are confidential. No one will see the answers except our surveyors or people who will process the information and only summarised information will be included in our report."

The work is the latest instalment in the assessment to recommend how the Brickyards, Park and High Street areas of Brotton can be improved.

When the scheme was announced last year there was widespread concern among the community that Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council intended to demolish homes - but that was refuted by the authority.

It maintained the initiative was to gauge residents' wishes for the redevelopment of the area, which did include some plans for demolition but no figures would be agreed until after the conclusion of the consultation period.

The next stage will be a public meeting in August after the results of the survey are known.