A couple who spent a lifetime paying off their mortgage have said it was a waste of time after a council scheme to sell neighbouring homes for just £1 has turned the street into a 'ghetto ' . Linda and George Hunter , who raised their four children in their home in Garrick Street , Wavertree , Liverpool , became mortgage free around 15 years ago . But eight years ago , the street became part of a regeneration scheme and the council bought properties and boarded them up ready for demolition . Estate agents say the couple would now struggle to sell their home for much more than £1 as other houses in the street are being sold off at that price by the council . Scroll down for video . Linda Hunter ( pictured ) who lives on Garrick Street , Wavertree , Liverpool , says she is stuck in a 'ghetto ' after Liverpool city council offered to sell homes in her street for £1 . Despite their neighbours moving out , the couple stayed put as they had elderly parents living close by who relied on them . They thought that what the council was offering for their home at the time - around £85,000 - was too low and believed it was worth closer to £120,000 . Mrs Hunter , 62 , a retired careworker , told the Liverpool Echo : 'As the street has become a horrible place to live and my parents died last year we thought `` enough is enough '' and decided to take the council 's offer and move to a home that was similar in price to ours . ' She picked out houses worth around £120,000 and the council said they would look into it for her in October , but months later the couple were told the offer had fallen through as their street was now part of Liverpool 's 'Home for a Pound ' scheme . Now the Hunters feel trapped as property prices have dramatically fallen in the area . An estate agent from Abode in nearby Allerton said : ' I would estimate a three-bedroomed house like one in Garrick Street would be worth around £60,000 at the moment but they would struggle to get even close to that . 'It would be very hard for them to sell their home when other properties in the road are being sold for £1 . ' Linda Hunter , 62 , feels trapped in the area as property prices in neighbouring houses have dramatically fallen . As the couple are unlikely to sell their home , they want the council to put its original offer back on the table . Mrs Hunter told the paper : 'We 've spent our lives paying off a property that is now worth virtually nothing . 'Who 's going to buy our house for thousands when they can get the house next door for £1 ? ' She added : 'The council created this ghetto that we are now trapped in and they feel they owe us nothing at all . 'We watched our lively and friendly road turn into a ghost town . 'There 's junk everywhere and we 're plagued with rats and fly tipping . We also have security cameras at the back and front of our house because of anti-social behaviour . ' I 'm so frustrated as there 's nothing we can do about it and the lack of communication from the authorities makes it feel like we keep hitting a brick wall . 'Even if things do regenerate , it could take years , which means we are still stuck for a long time . ' Liverpool city council said the fact some vacant properties in the area are being offered for £1 so that they can be renovated does not mean that other houses which are occupied are only worth £1 . A spokesman said : 'Homes for a Pound will see properties in this area which have long lain empty , derelict and rundown completely transformed , helping make this part of the city a thriving and sustainable community again . 'This is really good news for existing property owners as it will mean the area is a far more desirable place to live . 'The houses that are part of the Homes for a Pound scheme require significant work and financial investment so ca n't be compared with other properties . We are in discussions with existing local residents to explain our exciting plans for this area . '
Linda and George Hunter became mortgage free around 15 years ago . But 15 years ago , their street became part of a regeneration scheme . Liverpool ##pool ##ers bought houses and boarded them up for demolition . Estate residents say couple owners now intend to sell home for more than £ ##500 .