Pat Parry and Jimmy Holland say the fire-hit flats in St Cuthbert's Street, on Hartlepool's Headland, are a "disgrace" and have attracted flies and mice.



But Housing Hartlepool, which owns the properties, says they are waiting for an insurance claim to come through before they can sort out the mess.

The Mail reported in early April how 65-year-old Robbie Fuller had to be rescued from one of the blazing flats by PC Lorene Phillips, PC Simon Lowther and PC Pete Doherty of Hartlepool Police.

The fire had started in the flat above, when the woman who lived there was out.

Just seconds after the police officers rescued Mr Fuller, who has since been re-homed, the flat above collapsed into the ground floor.

Today, Ms Parry, 54, who lives opposite the two flats, which are boarded up and surrounded by railings, said: "There are lots of flies and God knows what, it's an eyesore.

"When you open the blinds on a morning that is all you see.

"It's getting on for five months now and nothing's been done to sort out the building.

"There is still a hole in the roof and pigeons are making nests inside it. They are going in with worms.

"There is also a gaping hole in the back. It is a typical eyesore. It could attract rats."

The unemployed mother-of-two and grandmother-of-three added: "I would just like to see them done up.

"Housing Hartlepool is going to have to decide one way or the other whether to do them up or demolish them."

Mr Holland is a 61-year-old retired council labourer and father-of-four whose flat adjoins the first-floor burned-out flat.

He said: "There have been flies and any amount of mice since this happened. It is just a disgrace."

A Housing Hartlepool spokeswoman said: "We have made the building as secure as possible and also have been maintaining the garden to keep the visual disruption to a minimum.

"We sympathise with the neighbouring residents but as the property has been extensively damaged by fire, we are in the hands of loss adjusters when it comes to being able to carry out the work needed to make the property habitable."