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Residents affected by the New Ferry blast have less than two weeks to appeal plans to demolish their homes - which they will then be expected to pay for.

The March blast left dozens of people displaced and one young man seriously injured after a dance studio exploded.

Last week Birkenhead magistrates court granted a council order to bring down a number of properties that suffered extreme structural damage.

Buildings on Bebington Road, numbered 56 to 66, will be demolished next month if the owners do not appeal the court order.

Owners of the affected properties have until August 3 to appeal the decision. If no appeals are made, contractors will be instructed to move onto the site and begin the demolition. The damaged buildings have been behind a secured cordon since the explosion on March 25.

The council said that the costs of the demolition work will be met by property owners or their insurance companies.

The affected properties are a mixture of ground floor businesses with residential accommodation above. Affected residents are now in alternative accommodation and work to find new premises for all displaced businesses is ongoing.

The news comes on the same day that the government was accused of “turning its back on the people of New Ferry ” – after it was confirmed no funding will be provided to support residents and businesses affected by the devastating explosion.

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Earlier this month, councillors in Wirral unanimously agreed to write to the government calling for urgent financial help for those affected by the town centre blast.

But Jake Berry MP, Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, has now written to Wirral Council saying government policy is to not provide financial assistance for “incidents of the size and impact of New Ferry”.

Instead, he has recommended funding is met through “existing local resources”.

A spokesperson for Wirral Council said: “Council officers continue to meet with New Ferry residents and businesses affected by the explosion on a regular basis – the latest took place this evening - and work on a long-term regeneration plan for the town is progressing.”