HUNDREDS of tenants have been warned their homes could be demolished despite council chiefs using £1million of taxpayers' money to upgrade them.

Blocks of flats in Johnstone, Renfrew-shire, were given make-overs which varied from property to property, but included rewiring, new kitchens and bathrooms.

Old boilers were replaced, electric storage heaters ripped out and new gas central heating systems were installed during the two-year project on 257 flats in the Johnstone Castle council estate - one of the country's most deprived areas.

But now tenants in Maple Drive, Cedar Avenue, Tower Road and Sycamore Avenue have been told their homes are likely to be bulldozed as part of a regeneration project.

Council chiefs are currently consulting with those affected along with local tenants and residents groups.

A decision is expected in the coming months.

Renfrewshire's hous-ing convener councillor Tommy Williams admitted £1m worth of improvements were carried out to the properties in 2010 and 2011 to meet new council housing quality standards set by the Scottish Government.

He added: "Regard-less of the internal upgrades, these buildings are nearing the end of their useful life and it's estimated would require a further £2.5m investment over the next five to 10 years.

"On top of this, Renfrewshire has a particularly high number of tenement flats with high turnover and low demand in some areas.

"In contrast, there continues to be strong demand for terraced and semi-detached homes."

Councillor Williams said that if the demolition went ahead as expected, "the project would take a number of years".

Materials are likely to be recycled if the demolition goes ahead.

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk