A NEW flagship school could be built on the site of demolished homes whose owners are fighting to keep the bulldozers at bay.

Council bosses have admitted that the Redearth Street area of Darwen would be first choice for the location of a new £20million academy.

Work is due to start before 2007 on the school which Blackburn with Darwen Council sees as integral to its plans to overhaul education in the borough.

But Mohammed Khan, the council's executive member for housing, said residents were not being forced out of their homes to make way for the new building.

He said: "There was a survey of housing done in that area in 1999 which found 79 per cent of homes were unfit.

"Another was carried out this year and 90 per cent were unfit. Those inspections were carried out before the academy site was even talked about."

But residents, who have formed an action group and are planning a series of protests to the council, are not convinced.

Dorothy Neal, of Redearth Street, said: "We heard a rumour the academy was going to be built here, but only after someone let it slip.

"Residents are convinced this was the plan all along and we don't agree with what they say about the houses."

And Colin Rigby, Conservative leader at Blackburn with Darwen, said: "They are going to have to put it somewhere. I have asked for clarification because I think the residents may be getting a bum deal."

Paul Browne, LibDem leader, added: "It is a hard decision because we need the academy, it will be good for Darwen. However, my first thoughts must be for the people in that area."