Pensioners destroy own homes

Residents refused to give in to the new landlords

Pensioners at an East Coast resort have demolished their holiday homes - rather than hand them over to a property developer.

London company Keelwalk bought the land at Flamborough's Marine Valley in 1999 and then trebled the ground rent.

But the residents - many of them in their 70s and 80s - refused to pay and decided they would not hand over their properties.

On Wednesday, the bulldozers knocked down the homes of Phyliss Griffith, 86, and Betty Waller, 75, with more to follow in the New Year.

Flamborough residents comfort each other

Frank Craven, chairman of action committee which has been fighting against Keelwalk, said the company "made an offer that was so ridiculous that these dear old ladies made the ultimate sacrifice".

Keelwalk had increased the rent from £1,200 to £3,500.

He added: "It is a very sad day. It's hard, very hard - the emotion was terrible."

The women, neither of whom live permanently on the site, took their case to the House of Lords but failed to safeguard the wooden chalets, which they owned.

It left the mainly elderly community facing a dilemma - buy their homes again, pay the increased rent or face eviction.

The pensioners decided they would rather pull down their properties than give them to Keelwalk.

Eight more residents are expecting court orders in the New Year requiring them to leave their homes.

But they have pledged to continue with the demolitions.

Keelwalk has refused to comment.