A HOUSING association has turned a Worcester street into "a ghetto" by boarding up several houses, according to a city councillor.

Margaret Layland says Marlow Road, Dines Green, is full of disfigured buildings, making the area unpleasant for its remaining residents.

The properties are owned by Shaftesbury Housing Association, but it has put them up for private sale. They have been boarded up for the past fortnight.

"The fact that they've been boarded up is awful," said Coun Layland. "People have been asking me what's happening to Dines Green - they feel the area's being made to look like a ghetto."

The Independent councillor believes the sale of the houses could have a longer-term effect on the area by reducing the number of affordable houses in Dines Green.

"I passionately believe in social housing," she said. "I believe people should be able to rent property. These houses are going to be sold, so they won't be available to rent.

"We already have a housing waiting list - this is doing nothing to help it."

A Shaftesbury Housing Association spokesman confirmed that eight of its houses in Marlow Road were being sold as part of its "business expansion scheme" in central areas.

"The properties were too expensive to run or rent," he said. "The interest payment was too high and we were losing money hand over fist.

"They were difficult to manage because they were out on a limb and not located close to our other properties."

He said the money raised selling the houses would be used to improve and develop properties elsewhere.

"We're committed to supporting and supplying low-cost housing, but these were too expensive," the spokesman said.

He said it was normal procedure to board up empty houses to prevent vandalism and break-ins.