FED-UP residents claim their lives are being made a misery by builders working on a controversial homes development.

Marden Homes is creating a cul-de-sac off The Crescent, in Hadleigh, by knocking down two homes and a cattery.

When the plans were unveiled, there was fierce opposition from neighbours who claimed the entrance to the new street would be dangerous and The Crescent was too quiet to cope with the extra traffic.

Building work is due to finish in October, but some residents are already sick of the disruption.

June Shead, 70, who has lived in the road for 36 years, said: “I have never known upheaval like this. The builders park round the corner and we have to drive on the wrong side of the road to get around there. It’s a nightmare.

“The rubbish truck couldn’t collect rubbish because it couldn’t get round the street.

“The grass verges are thick with mud and I can’t get it off my drive sometimes.

“The lorries have been driving on the pavement and grass verges. This is a narrow road not built for heavy vehicles “It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

Castle Point Council turned down the application, but plans for eight houses and two bungalows were allowed on appeal by a Government inspector.

Two of the homes in the development have already been sold. The rest are on the market for between £265,000 and £325,000.

Marden Homes, which is based in Southend, has been going for 20 years and is also working on projects in nearby Scrub Lane, as well as Hadleigh Road, Leigh, and Rayleigh Road, Eastwood.

Ivor Watson, Marden Homes office manager, said: “We are sorry to hear a complaint has been made against our company.

“The company delivering has also been reprimanded by the on-site manager and our contracts manager and it has been informed to take more care if making any future deliveries to the site.

“Any making good from damage we or our sub-contractors have made will be carried out as required.”