HOUSING minister Grant Shapps waded into the battle to save Ringo Starr’s childhood home in Dingle.

The Conservative minister called on Liverpool City Council to allow the Madryn Street property a reprieve while the public have their say.

His intervention provoked an angry response from the council, who issued a pointed statement insisting an extensive consultation has been carried out and drawing attention to the setbacks caused by the Government’s budget cuts.

A council spokesman said: “Grant Shapps may not be aware of the fact that we have consulted extensively with local residents over these plans and the overwhelming majority are in favour of them.

“Residents have been fully involved in developing the proposals and have shown they want decent homes to replace houses which have long passed their lifespan.

“They are telling us that they are absolutely sick of the delays and the conditions they have to live in. They want the city council to demolish these properties as soon as possible, so that they can get on with their lives.”