Residents of a much-loved seafront terrace in Largs were the subject of an astonishing bid to demolish their homes, the "News" can reveal.

It is understood that numbers 8-22 Aubery Crescent - which command stunning views at the north end of the prom - were targeted for demolition with shock proposals on the table to replace them with a massive 150 flats development.

Amazed at the local developer"s Benidorm-style offer, first made two years ago, some of the residents pointed to the two-storey Victorian terrace"s B-listed status as they set about stopping the proposal in its tracks.

However, it is also understood that other residents were in fact keen to capitalise on the offer and vacate their homes for a substantial sum of about half-a-million pounds each.

The audacious proposal comes on the back of renewed fears from Largs councillor Alex Gallagher over the seafront development plan potentially being breached as Skelmorlie continues to be blighted by numerous new flatted developments.

One Aubery Crescent resident, who did not want to be named, told the "News" that various meetings had been held to talk over the matter with many actually 'desperate to have the street demolished' after a figure of around £500,000 was tabled for the sale of each of their properties.

'We knew from the outset that it was a listed building and told the developer as much,' he said.

'He then came back and at the next meeting said that he could keep the facade and knock the rest down, but we pointed out the whole building is listed internally.

Story in Largs News of May 20