Wrought iron railings - which will cost almost �1,000-a-metre to install - have been described as "ridiculous" by a councillor in Hartlepool.

John Marshall, who represents St Hilda's ward on the Headland, has criticised the North Hartlepool Partnership for planning to spend �250,000 putting the railings in front of 40 houses.

But Mr Marshall has refuted claims that he wants to see the work done on the cheap.

The council's regeneration department said the iron railings - which will be in the original Victorian era style - will fulfil both conservation and heritage requirements.

I've never accepted that we should do the Headland on the cheap John Marshall, councillor

Hartlepool Headland is the oldest part of Hartlepool and has many buildings which are in designated conservation areas.

Mr Marshall told BBC Radio Cleveland there was no need to replicate Victorian railings and called for a more economical solution.

He said: "Between �6,000 and �18,000 per house for a front railing seems to me to be on the excessive side."

But Tim Wyatt, head of regeneration in Hartlepool, claims the costs can be fully justified.

Strict controls

He said: "You are talking about a high quality specification and materials that are going to be much more value resistant and withstand the rigours of the elements.

"What we have done is to do something which is both within the spirit of the original and also will fit with the conservation criteria that are essential to draw down the funding.

"The money here, in the main, is going to come from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the rules and requirements of what can be done with that money are fairly strict."

Mr Marshall added: "It is not about doing it on the cheap. It is about getting a job done that satisfies the requirements and enables the maximum amount of houses to be done with the money we have available.

"I've never accepted that we should do the Headland on the cheap."