Starr's Home Facing Demolition

The drummer was welcomed into the world on 7 July 1940 in a house on Madryn Street in the band's famous hometown.

The property first came under threat in 2005, when Starr himself spoke out against plans to knock the building down.

It has stood empty for five years while local politicians have disagreed over what to do with the musician's birthplace, but now a demolition notice has been posted on the street, leading to fears the historic home will be lost forever.

Philip Coppell, who has worked as an official Beatles tour guide in the city for more than 20 years, has branded local council chiefs "idiots" and insists the building should be handed over to Britain's National Trust organisation for preservation.

He tells Britain's Daily Mail, "Whoever has approved this are complete idiots. The National Trust run Paul MCCartney and John Lennon's homes as tourist attractions and people come from all over the world to see them.

"Now they are planning to demolish the very building that Ringo was born in. It's sheer lunacy... If it's knocked down - even if it is moved - fans all over the world are going to be up in arms. They will just not understand how Liverpool can carry out this kind of cultural vandalism. What the council is proposing to do is nothing short of criminal and they will be convicted in the court of international public opinion if they go ahead with it."

A spokesman for Liverpool City Council says, "This is part of a multi-phase project, which is going to run for some years. Number 9 Madryn Street is under no immediate threat of demolition. We have given special consideration to this building and we are currently in discussions with National Museums Liverpool regarding the potential for its preservation."