At first glance it is hard to imagine anyone objecting to plans to demolish a street of dilapidated Victorian two-up-two downs in a neglected part of Liverpool.

But when Beatles fans realised the plans included the destruction of drummer Ringo Starr's birthplace, they accused the council of cultural vandalism bordering on the criminal.
Devotees of the Fab Four have said proposals to demolish 9 Madryn Street in the Dingle district of Liverpool, where Starr, whose real name is Richard Starkey, was born on July 7 1940, is the equivalent of knocking down William Shakespeare’s home.

Ever since Beatlemania engulfed the world in the mid 1960s the address has become a vital part of any fans’ pilgrimage to the band’s home city attracting thousands of visitors each year.

But unlike the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, which are now owned and run by the National Trust, Ringo’s former house has fallen into disrepair and has been earmarked for demolition since 2005 along with a number of surrounding roads, known locally as the Welsh Streets.

A wave of public opposition has already earned the area one stay of execution, but firms have now been asked to bid for the demolition contract, sparking a fresh wave of opposition from Beatles fans.

One option being considered in an attempt to appease sentimental Beatles fans is to dismantle the house brick by brick and rebuild it at Liverpool’s Museum of Life, which is due to open next year in Liverpool’s dock area....