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"We really are in stalemate with the Executive on this."

She said proposals have been mooted to demolish the row, but Mrs Graham said she has lived there for some eight years, her daughters live beside her, and she has no intention of leaving her home.

"We don't want to lose our homes, we just want them to do something with the derelict houses. It seems that the buck is just being passed."

Her daughter Emma, a mother of two young children, aged seven and three, said the situation is taking a toll on her.

"I have two children so the dangers are just terrible. Not only that the lives of the fire-fighters are being placed at risk when they have to tackle a blaze, and all that for a derelict house. The young people themselves could be burnt to death because they are entering the house by a very small opening."

She too is unhappy with her contact with the Executive.

He mum Ann says she feels that because the family live in Springhill they are being treated as 'out of sight, out of mind.'

"There are 11 people living in the row and they just want something done. We feel like we are being forced out of our homes. At the end of the day the Executive is 100 per cent responsible for the houses so accountability must lie with them.

"They just need to make a decision on these derelict houses."

The Housing Executive has said that initial proposals for the regeneration of the estate will be presented to tenants within the next few weeks.

These proposals include an option to demolish the void properties in the estate.

A spokeswoman sad, "We have carried out a survey of the estate and are currently developing an state regeneration strategy to address any outstanding issues. This strategy is aimed at enhancing the general environment within the estate.

She said the Executive had spent £1.3 million improving homes on the estate in the last four yeas.

Community worker, Paul Gallagher, who lives on the estate said, "The community group cannot gate-keep this estate, we can't watch over these houses.

"Although we are working with the Housing Executive and hope to see some positive action coming from the consultation.

"We can't police the area and whilst the derelict houses are shuttered, if people are intent on gaining entry, they will.

"There are very little measures that will keep them out."

said the community activist.