ANGRY residents in Rassau are calling on Blaenau Gwent council to pull down a row of terraced houses, pictured, branded a death-trap after fire ripped through them.

Fire gutted a row of ten derelict houses, contaminated with asbestos, in Heol Rheidol on Saturday night.

At one point over 30 firefighters battled to bring the fire under control, with flames as high as 25 feet reportedly leaping from the two-storey buildings.

A South Wales Fire Service spokeswoman said at one point an evacuation of the area was considered. She added the fire was thought to have been started deliberately.

Firefighters were still on site on Sunday morning, damping down. Jayne Burcher, 39, who lives in Stoneybridge Road, the street next to the derelict houses, said: "The firefighters were risking their lives to save that.

"It looked like something from Mars with them dressed in their white asbestos protection clothes.

"We've been having terrible problems with kids breaking into the houses there and causing vandalism and trying to start fires.

"I think I would rather be living in Beirut than here. We just want the council to pull them down."

Tracy Hambly, 38, from Tor-y-Crug, used to live in one of the houses in Heol Rheidol.

"I left there two years ago because it was too dangerous to live in there because of asbestos.

"They've been promising to take the houses down for the last couple of years.

"They've said they're hoping to tear them down on Wednesday, but they can't guarantee it.

"It's frightening because when asbestos burns it settles and turns into dust which can cause health problems ten or twelve years down the line."

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "It was like Armageddon here on Saturday night, the fire was terrible.

"I think the people who started the fire are the scum of the earth."

Gwent Police are investigating the incident and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 01633 838111.