RESIDENTS left living in unfit houses have been given hope for getting out of their homes.

Hundreds of residents in west Hull were left in limbo in November when the Government announced it was axing support for the city's flagship Gateway initiative.

Many had been expecting to move out of streets earmarked for demolitions while others had just bought the first new homes in Woodcock Street.

Now housing firm Keepmoat has submitted an £8 million bid to the Government's new Regional Growth Fund to keep the regeneration work in the Newington and St Andrews neighbourhoods on track.

The company, which is Hull City Council's lead development partner in the area, says 600 new jobs and further £150 million worth of private sector investment will be secured if the bid is successful.

David Carmichael, Keepmoat's partnership director, said: "A momentum had been built up in the area but unfortunately the funding that had been available was withdrawn."

He said that if their bid if successful, it will help the company attract a further £150 million of funding from the private sector, which will lead to the creation of 600 new jobs

He said: "We think that is a good equation and we are confident it will be successful."

The company is already building new homes on three sites in the area.

Mr Carmichael said if the bid was given the go-ahead it would see a total of 2,000 new homes for sale and rent being completed over the next 12 years.

Geoff Rimmington, 64, and his wife June, 63, live in Clyde Street, where half the houses are now empty and boarded-up.

He said: "We had been expecting a letter last September saying we were in the next phase to move out.

"The way things have gone down here is terrible.

"Every time a house becomes empty it's picked clean, from the lead on the roof to the drainpipes.

"I hope this bid comes off because no one really seems to know what is happening."

A decision is expected by April.