The letters were distributed by councillors angry at the plan by Four Seasons Health Care to transform the derelict Bryden Court Nursing Home at Biddick Hall in South Shields into 41 'assisted living units' for people with drug and alcohol problems.

Coun Olive Punchion, also chairman of West Shields community area forum, said: "There has been a massive response to our letters.

"Hundreds of people have signed them because they are so concerned about putting a centre like this right on their doorstep.

"We are working really hard to make this estate better. A centre for recovering drug addicts and alcoholics is the very last thing Biddick Hall needs."

Coun Punchion has handed over the first batch of protest letters to George Mansbridge, South Tyneside Council's head of housing strategy and regulatory services.

She added: "The local councillors will oppose this application all the way, and we would like people to write in to the planning department as soon as possible or contact myself or Coun Anne Walsh and we will approach the council on their behalf.

"I've just handed over more than 200 letters, and I'm sure there will be an awful lot more before the application is considered by the planning committee in February."

The boarded-up former nursing home, in Galsworthy Road, has been empty since late 2007, sparking complaints from neighbours about it being a magnet for vandals.

More than 100 people attended a recent meeting with Couns Punchion and Walsh at Chuter Ede Community Centre to speak out against the application.