A PENSIONER who could be forced out of his home after 50 years under plans to redevelop an estate took his fight to a public inquiry yesterday.

Retired miner Tom Bamburgh, 75, moved into Seaham's Parkside Estate in 1939, and has lived in his current house at Daphne Crescent for most of his life.

His wife Carrie, 72, has lived there since the property was built, in 1948.

But, following the area's decline, Easington District Council earmarked it for its estate action scheme in 1993.

Six years later, after securing a £4.69m Government regeneration grant, it drafted a multi-million pound redevelopment scheme for Parkside.

It has since granted planning permission for Persimmon Homes to bulldoze the council estate and replace it with mainly private housing.

The majority have agreed to a compulsory purchase order, taking up offers of accommodation elsewhere.

But two couples - Mr and Mrs Bamburgh and Dennis and Patricia Sherlock, also of Daphne Crescent - are determined to keep their homes, which they have bought from the council.

Yesterday, they spoke at an inquiry to decide whether the compulsory purchase of properties should proceed.

Mr Bamburgh said: "Our constitutional rights have been abused by the council.

"The council has showed us no respect and no regard for the Human Rights Act. I have a right to peace and enjoyment of my home, which has been taken away from me."

Martin Carter, for the council, highlighted people's unwillingness to live on the estate, its high number of empty properties, and problems with crime and anti-social behaviour..

"It appears that the objectors believe that the Human Rights Act makes compulsory purchase unlawful," he said.

"It does not."

The inquiry inspector will report to the Secretary of State, who will decide whether to approve the order.