WORRIED residents living in an idyllic conservation area alongside the canal at Tardebigge New Wharf fear they may be turned out of their homes.

It prompted a call this week for their landlord to behave in a ”more humane fashion”.

More than 10 houses on the wharf on Alcester Road are being offered for sale by owners British Waterways despite it promising it would never sell the properties.

Residents are all on short term tenancy agreements, but many have occupied the properties for more than 20 years. The houses were originally built for canal workers.

Now Bromsgrove's MP Julie Kirkbride has stepped into the row and met concerned residents on Saturday.

She said: "People who rent these homes are being told they will be sold over their heads. They have not been offered the chance to buy them and some could be left with as little as two months' notice to leave.

"I will be appealing to British Waterways to behave in a more humane fashion to its tenants, some of whom have lived in the properties for many years.

"As a public body, I expect better from British Waterways than to treat people like this. Ideally, the homes would be sold together to another landlord prepared to rent them out, but if not, the residents should at least have the first option to buy having lived there for so long. I shall be making urgent representations to the chief executive."

Residents' association spokeswoman Caroline Hicks said: "This is absolutely horrible. We were told by British Waterways the houses would not go up for sale so when we received a letter out of the blue telling us they were it came as a massive shock.

"A lot of elderly people live in these homes who have lived here for a very long time and there is no way they or any of us can afford to buy them.

" If the sales go ahead a lot of people will be made homeless.

"We are all in a fog about what is going to happen and British Waterways hasn't helped at all. All we know is we could be out on the street this time next month.”

Annabel Smith for British Waterways said: "British Waterways is currently seeking the necessary internal approvals to proceed with the sale of residential properties at Tardebigge New Wharf. It is anticipated each will be sold individually and subject to each of the tenants existing tenancy agreements. British Waterways wrote to all residential tenants during 2008 to advise that a review of its residential property was underway. British Waterways recently wrote to the tenants in question to advise the process to sell the properties at Tardebigge had commenced and has already been in further communication with a number of the tenants.

"The majority of tenants at this location occupy their properties under Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements; should the new owner not wish to carry on with the existing tenancy arrangements then the tenant is entitled to receive two months notice to vacate.

“Security deposits held by British Waterways will be returned to the tenants once the property has been sold.”

Cash from the sales will be reinvested in the 2,200 mile waterway network, she added.