BBC Radio Stoke obtained figures from the regeneration group Renew after making a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Renew North Staffordshire said the spend was necessary to protect remaining residents and the public.

Renew said it planned to invest �2.3bn over 15 years to transform the housing market and improve the area.

The empty properties are in the Middleport, Coalville and Hanley areas of the city.

'Graffiti concerns'

Renew North Staffordshire is one of nine Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder initiatives in England, which aim to build better homes in communities hit by low demand for property and poor quality housing.

Hardial Bhogal, director of Renew, said it had a responsibility to look after residents still living in the area being regenerated.

He said it was important "we respond to their concerns about graffiti, litter tipping and so on".

"And as a result we actually make that money available. It's publicly available, it's in our business plan to respond to these sorts of concerns."

However Michael Skudder, who lives in Middleport near to where houses are waiting for demolition, said it was a waste of money.

He said: "The thieves and vandals are laughing all the way to their banks at this huge cost that hasn't stopped the theft of building materials such as lead and copper - and it still goes on."