RESIDENTS sent a defiant 'see you in court' message to councillors after failing in a last-ditch bid to reverse a decision to bulldoze 150 homes in Darwen.

A meeting of Blackburn with Darwen Council's sustainable communities overview and scrutiny committee ended in chaos late last night when backbench councillors refused to order a review of the decision to knock down the homes in the Redearth Road area.

Around 30 residents barracked members of the committee when they failed to demand a rethink.

Both council leader Coun Kate Hollern and executive director for regeneration Graham Burgess were called before the committee after eight councillors signed a motion to 'call in' the decision.

The scrutiny committee has the power to back the executive's decision, pass comment on the decision or demand the executive rethink their plans. They cannot change the decision

Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive board voted to demolish around 150 homes in the Redearth Road, Sudell Street and Franklin Street area. The call-in was made over concerns about the costings of the scheme - which officers said meant it was £2m cheaper to demolish homes than try and repair them - and the way consultation was carried out.

Mr Burgess was heckled as he said: "Our surveyors said these were some of the worst homes they'd seen in the country."

Resident Pietro Sciambarella said: "We can't let them destroy our community. We will fight them in court, and win."