A RESIDENT says she is stuck on a housing estate because conditions are so bad no estate agent will sell her home.

Chris Grimwood liked life as a tenant on the Whitehill Estate in Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-Street, so much that, with her husband, she bought her council home on Ruskin Avenue 12 years ago.

But she says over the years she has seen the estate deteriorate to such an extent that she will no longer let her three children, aged 11, eight and three, out to play.

About two-thirds of the homes are derelict and regularly targeted by vandals and arsonists.

Over Christmas two nearby homes were set alight. Mrs Grimwood says she now sits inside her home at night in fear, wondering if hers will be next.

She said: "It was a really nice area. But the area started deteriorating and as people moved out the council didn't fill the houses so it went to wrack and ruin.

"Now people won't move into the homes."

The estate has become so run-down that estate agents have told the family there is no point putting their home on the market.

Mrs Grimwood said: "My husband would take any amount of money now to get out of here because he's had enough.

"There's no fight left in any of us any more."

On Monday Chester-le-Street District councillors accepted a report that recommended regeneration for the Pelton Fell area.

A development brief - put together in consultation with the council, the development group and the community - is to be submitted for approval in March.

If approved potential developers will be invited to present schemes to the council and residents.

The most suitable developers will then be appointed to initiate the work to regenerate the area.

Coun Linda Ebbatson said: "I am very encouraged by the executive's support on these recommendations - it is only through partnership with local residents that we can be assured of successfully regenerating this area."