A street which featured in one of the most famous scenes in the Oscar-winning film Billy Elliott is to be bulldozed.

Homes in Alnwick Street in Easington Colliery, County Durham, are empty and boarded-up because of repeated attacks by vandals.

Only a handful of properties remain occupied in the terraced back street, which became known to millions when Teesside-born actor Jamie Bell was shown racing down it.

A hoped-for revival of the village on the back of the heart-warming tale, in which a boy beats the odds to become a ballet dancer, have not materialised.

'Pulled down'

Mother-of-three Maureen Barnes, who is one of the few remaining residents of Alnwick Street, said: "When Billy Elliott was filmed, at least the houses looked respectable.

It had been hoped that the success of Billy Elliott would help to revive the village

Tony Davison - Easington District Council

"Now the council has paid �16,000 for our home. We are moving out after 16 years.

"The street is to be pulled down and it is a great shame."

Easington District Council housing standards manager Tony Davison said: "The closure of the pit 10 years ago led to many people leaving and house prices slumped.

"It had been hoped that the success of Billy Elliott would help to revive the village, but that has obviously not happened."

Although coastal areas have been rescued with the help of government and European cash, housing in Easington Colliery has continued to decline.

Parish councillor and retired miner Cyril Dunn, 63, said: "The houses where Billy Elliott was filmed need replacing. We need modern homes."

Jamie Bell won the best actor title at the British film awards in 2001 for his role in Billy Elliott.